Device programming with system generation

ABSTRACT

A secure programming system and method for provisioning and programming a target payload into a programmable device mounted in a programmer. The programmable device can be authenticated before programming to verify the device is a valid device produced by a silicon vendor. The target payload can be programmed into the programmable device and linked with an authorized manufacturer. The programmable device can be verified after programming the target payload by verifying the silicon vendor and the authorized manufacturer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority as a Continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 15/640,438, filed Jun. 30, 2017, which claims priority of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/369,304, filed Aug. 1, 2016, theentire contents of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference asif fully set forth herein, under 35 U.S.C. § 120.

This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.62/371,184, entitled COUNTERFEIT PREVENTION, filed Aug. 4, 2016, U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/372,242, entitled EMBEDDINGFOUNDATIONAL ROOT OF TRUST USING SECURITY ALGORITHMS, filed Aug. 8,2016, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/371,184, entitledUNIFIED PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT FOR PROGRAMMABLE DEVICES, filed Sep. 30,2016, each of which is owned by the Applicant and is hereby incorporatedby reference as if fully set forth herein, under 35 U.S.C. § 120.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate generally to device programming systems, and, morespecifically, to secure programming systems with system generation.

BACKGROUND

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could bepursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previouslyconceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it shouldnot be assumed that any of the approaches described in this sectionqualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in thissection.

Certain operations of electronic circuit board assembly are performedaway from the main production assembly lines. While various feedermachines and robotic handling systems populate electronic circuit boardswith integrated circuits, the operations related to processingintegrated circuits, such as programming, testing, calibration, andmeasurement are generally performed in separate areas on separateequipment rather than being integrated into the main production assemblylines.

Customizable devices such as Flash memories (Flash), electricallyerasable programmable read only memories (EEPROM), programmable logicdevices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), andmicrocontrollers incorporating non-volatile memory elements, can beconfigured with separate programming equipment, which is often locatedin a separate area from the circuit board assembly lines. In addition,system level components, such as smart phones, circuit boards, Internetof Things (IoT) devices, media players, can also require specificsecurity configuration support.

The systems and sub-assemblies that are manufactured or assembled inbulk on a manufacturing line are generally functionally identical. Suchproducts share similar problems about functionality and operation.Issues manifesting in one device are typically found in all similarlymanufactured devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative view of a secure programming system,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts an example of the programmer;

FIG. 3 depicts an example of a trusted device;

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a data device;

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a device identification;

FIG. 6 depicts an example block diagram of a secure programming system;

FIG. 7 depicts a second example block diagram of the secure programmingsystem;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a provisioning one of the trusted devices;

FIG. 9 is an example of a managed and security processing system;

FIG. 10 is a detailed example of the secure element use case;

FIG. 11 is an example of a provisioning process flow for programmabledevices in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 12 is an example of a secure manufacturing process flow for theprogrammable devices in accordance with one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 13 is block diagram of a computer system upon which embodiments ofthe invention may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however,that the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresent invention.

Embodiments are described herein according to the following outline:

1.0. General Overview

2.0. Structural Overview

3.0. Functional Overview

4.0. Example Embodiments

5.0. Implementation Mechanism—Hardware Overview

6.0. Extensions and Alternatives

1.0. General Overview

Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for provisioningprogrammable devices in a secure manner. The secure programming systemcan individually encrypt a target payload of data and code and thenprogram the information into each individual one of the programmabledevices. The secure programming system can create a customized payloadpackage that can only be decrypted by a system or device having thecorrect security keys.

The programmable devices can include memory chips, circuit boards, andcomplete electronic devices such as smart phones, media players, orother consumer and industrial electronic devices. The configuration ofthe security keys can control the operation of the programmable devices.

The secure programming system can securely configure individual devicesincluding components, circuit boards, and complete products. Byimplementing security features at the individual component manufacturingtime, operation can be controlled on a device by device basis. Thesecure content, codes, and keys can interoperate to provide a highdegree of security and control.

According to one embodiment, by individually encrypting a target payloadon one of the programmable devices, such as a circuit board, then thecircuit board can be configured to only work with components that haveregistered security codes. This can be used to ensure that circuitboards can only be operated with certain category parts. This providesthe manufacturer with a degree of control over the final use of theboards.

According to another embodiment, the programmable devices can validate aserial number or other parameter as a prerequisite for operation of thedevice. In yet another embodiment, the programmable device can providecode signing facilities to authenticate code before execution.

According to another embodiment, the programmable devices can beauthenticated before programming and authenticated again afterprogramming a target payload. This can include authenticating a siliconvendor device certificate and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM)device certificate. The programmable devices can include securityinformation identifying the silicon vendor, the OEM, the factory used toprogram the devices, the programmer, and other identifying informationthat can be used to track and authenticate the production of theprogrammable devices.

In other aspects, the invention encompasses computer apparatuses andcomputer-readable media configured to carry out the foregoingtechniques.

2.0. Structural Overview

Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is shown an illustrative view ofvarious aspects of a secure programming system 100 in which thetechniques described herein may be practiced, according to anembodiment. The secure programming system 100 can individually configuredata devices and active, trusted device with cryptographic informationto provide a secure programming and operation environment.

The secure programming system 100 comprises a programming unit 110having a programmer 112, a security controller 114, security keys 106,adapters for coupling to programmable devices, a first security module116, a second security module 118, and an nth security module 120. Thesecure programming system 100 can be coupled to a security master system104 having a secure master storage system 102. The security mastersystem 104 and the secure master storage system 102 can generate andsecurely storage the security keys 106 for encrypting and decryptinginformation. The security keys 106 can implement a variety of securityparadigms. For example, the security keys 106 can include key pairs 150having a private key 152 and a public key 154. The key pairs 150 can beused to implement a public key cryptography system where data encryptedby the public key 154 can be decrypted using the private key 152. Thesecure programming system 100 can include as many different key pairs150 as necessary. The key pairs 150, the private key 152, and the publickey 154 can be implemented for different devices or system elementsincluding the secure programming system 100, the programming unit 110,the programmer 112, the security controller 114, the security modules,the programmable devices 128, the data devices 132, the trusted devices130, or any other system element.

System 100 comprises one or more computing devices. These one or morecomputing devices comprise any combination of hardware and softwareconfigured to implement the various logical components described herein,including components of the programming unit 110 having the programmer112, the security controller 114, the adapters, the first securitymodule 116, the second security module 118, and the nth security module120. For example, the one or more computing devices may include one ormore memories storing instructions for implementing the variouscomponents described herein, one or more hardware processors configuredto execute the instructions stored in the one or more memories, andvarious data repositories in the one or more memories for storing datastructures utilized and manipulated by the various components.

The programming unit 110 can be a secure system for programming data,metadata, and code onto the programmable devices 128. The programmingunit 110 can receive security information from the security mastersystem 104, process the information, and transfer an individuallyconfigured version of the security information to the programmabledevices 128.

The programming unit 110 can include the programmer 112. The programmer112 can be an electromechanical system for physically programming theprogrammable devices 128. For example, the programmer 112 can receive atray containing the programmable devices 128, electrically couple theprogrammable devices 128 to an adapter unit, and transfer securityinformation into the programmable devices 128. The programming unit 110can receive individualized status information from each of theprogrammable devices 128 and customize the security informationtransferred to each of the programmable devices 128 on an individualdevice basis. For example, each of the programmable devices 128 canreceive an individual block of information that is different from theinformation transferred to others of the programmable devices.

The programmer 112 can be coupled to one or more of the adapters thatcan be used to access the programmable devices 128. The adapters caninclude a first adapter 122, a second adapter 124, and a nth adapter126.

In an illustrative example, the first adapter 122 can be a hardwaredevice that can be used to electrically connect one or more of theprogrammable devices to the programmer 112. The programmer 112 can thentransfer a version of the security information to one of theprogrammable devices 128. The first adapter 122 can include one or moresockets for mounting the programmable devices 128. The first adapter 122can include a socket, a connector, a zero-insertion-force (ZIF) socket,or a similar device to mounting integrated circuits.

Although the adapters are described as electromechanical units formounting the programmable devices 128, it is understood that theadapters can have other implementations as well. For example, if theprogrammable devices 128 are independent electronic devices, such as acell phone, a consumer electronic device, a circuit board, or a similardevice with active components, then the adapters can include mechanismsto communicate with the programmable devices 128. The adapters caninclude a cable link, a Universal Serial Bus link, a serial connection,a parallel connection, a wireless communication link, an electronic databus interface, an optical interface, or any other communicationmechanism.

The programmable devices 128 are devices that can be provisioned withsecure information by the programming unit 110. For example, theprogrammable devices 128 can include data devices such as flash memoryunits, programmable read only memories, secure data storage devices, orother data storage devices.

Provisioning may include transferring data and/or code information to adevice. For example, a flash memory unit can be provisioned byprogramming it with data.

The programmable devices 128 can also include trusted devices 130 thatinclude security data and security programming information. For example,the programmable devices 128 can include trusted devices 130 such ascell phones, hardware security modules, trusted programming modules,circuit board, or similar devices.

The data devices 132 can include any number of devices, e.g., a firstdata device 134, a second data device 136, and a nth data device 138.The trusted devices 130 can include any number of trusted devices, e.g.,a first trusted device 140, a second trusted device 142, and up to a nthtrusted device 144.

The programmable devices 128 can each be provisioned with individuallycustomized security information. Thus, each of the programmable devices128 can include a separate set of the security keys 106 that can be usedto individually encrypt the data stored in programmable devices 128.This provides the ability to encrypt security information 148differently on each of the programmable devices 128 to maximizesecurity. Each of the programmable devices 128 can be personalized withindividual security keys 106.

The programmable devices 128 can be configured to include paired devices146. The paired devices 146 are two or more of the programmable devices128 that can share one or more of the security keys 106. This can alloweach of the paired devices 146 to detect and authenticate another of thepaired devices 146 in the same group. Thus, data from one of the paireddevices 146 can be shared with another one of the paired devices 146.This can allow functionality such as sharing information, authenticatinga bi-directional secure communication channel between two or more of thepaired devices 146, identifying other related devices, or a combinationthereof.

In an illustrative example, the secure programming system 100 can beused to establish one of the paired devices 146 having the first datadevice 134, such as a system information module (SIM) chip, paired withthe first trusted device 140, such as a smart phone. In thisconfiguration, the first data device 134 and the first trusted device140 can both be programmed with the security keys 106 for the paireddevices 146. Thus, the first trusted device 140 can validate thesecurity information 148, such as a serial number, of the first datadevice 134 to authenticate that the first trusted device 140 is allowedto use the other information on the first data device 134.

The programming unit 110 can include a security controller 114 coupledto the programmer 112. The security controller 114 are computing devicesfor processing security information. The security controller 114 caninclude specific cryptographic and computational hardware to facilitythe processing of the cryptographic information. For example, thesecurity controller 114 can include a quantum computer, parallelcomputing circuitry, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) configured toprocess security information, a co-processor, an array logic unit, amicroprocessor, or a combination thereof.

The security controller 114 can be a secure device specially configuredto prevent unauthorized access to security information at the input,intermediate, or final stages of processing the security information.The security controller 114 can provide a secure execution environmentfor secure code elements 314 to execute in. For example, the securitycontroller 114 can be a hardware security module (HSM), amicroprocessor, a trusted security module (TPM), a dedicated securityunit, or a combination thereof. The security controller 114 can be partof the programming unit 110. For example, the security controller 114,such as a hardware security module, can be included within theprogrammer 112.

The security controller 114 can be coupled to security modules toprovide specific security functionality. The security modules caninclude a first security module 116, a second security module 118, and anth security module 120. Each of the security modules can provide aspecific security functionality such as identification, authentication,encryption, decryption, validation, code signing, data extraction, or acombination thereof. For example, the security modules can be hardware,software, or a combination thereof.

For example, the first security module 116 can be configured to providean application programming interface (API) to a standardized set ofcommonly used security functions. In another example, the secondsecurity module 118 can be a combination of dedicated hardware andsoftware to provide faster encryption and decryption of data.

The programming unit 110 can include the secure storage of one or morethe security keys 106. The security keys 106 can be calculated internalto the secure programming system 100, can be calculated externally andreceived by the secure programming system 100, or a combination thereof.

The security keys 106 can be used to encrypt and decrypt the securityinformation. The security keys 106 can be used to implement differentsecurity methodologies and protocols. For example, the security keys 106can be used to implement a public key encryption system. In anotherexample, the security keys 106 can be used to implement a differentsecurity protocol or methodology. Although the security keys 106 can bedescribed as used for a public key encryption system, it is understoodthat the security keys 106 can be used to implement different securityparadigms.

One of the advantages of the secure programming system 100 includes theability to provision each of the programmable devices 128 with adifferent set of the security keys 106 and a different version of thesecurity information 148 encrypted by the individual security keys 106.This can ensure that the security keys 106 used to decrypt the securityinformation 148 on one of the programmable devices 128 cannot be used todecrypt the security information on another one of the programmabledevices 128. Each of the programmable devices 128 can have a separateone of the security keys 106 to provide maximum protection.

Referring now to FIG. 2, therein is shown an example of the programmer112. The programmer 112 is an electromechanical device for provisioningthe programmable devices 128.

The programmer 112 can be used to access the programmable devices 128and provision the programmable devices 128 with the content payload. Thecontent payload can include data, code, security keys 106 of FIG. 1, thesecurity information 148 of FIG. 1, and other related content.

The programmer 112 can have a variety of configurations. The programmer112 can include a programming processor 202, an input device receptacle206, device adapters 208, destination sockets 210, a device placementunit 212, and an output device receptacle 214. For example, theprogrammer 112 can be a programmer 112, a chip programmer, a deviceprovisioning system, a circuit board programmer, or a similarprovisioning system.

The programmer 112 can have a programmer identification 216. Theprogrammer identification 216 is a unique value for identifying theprogrammer 112.

The programmer 112 can configure the programmable devices 128 byinitializing and writing a data image into the programmable devices 128.The data image can be configured for the device type of the programmabledevices 128. The programmer 112 can transfer the data to theprogrammable devices 128 using direct or indirect memory access.

The programmer 112 can receive a single payload image for theprogrammable devices 128 and store the image in a local programmerstorage unit. The payload image can be processed into individual imagestargeted for each of the programmable devices 128. Configuring theprogrammable devices 128 can store memory structure, cryptographic data,and user data on the programmable devices 128. Configuring can includeforming one-time structures such as partitions on the programmabledevices 128.

The programmer 112 can include the programming processor 202. Theprogramming processor 202 is a computing unit for controlling theprogrammer 112. The programming processor 202 can include a centralprocessing unit (not shown), a programmer storage unit 204, acommunication interface (not shown), and a software (not shown).

The programming processor 202 can have a variety of configurations. Forexample, the programming processor 202 can include the securitycontroller or be coupled to the system controller. The programmingprocessor 202 can be a single processor, a multiprocessor, a cloudcomputing element, or a combination thereof.

The programmer storage unit 204 is a device for storing and retrievinginformation. For example, the programmer storage unit 204 of theprogrammer 112 can be a disk drive, a solid-state memory, an opticalstorage device, or a combination thereof.

The programmer 112 can include the software for operating the programmer204. The software is control information for executing on theprogramming processor 202. The software can be stored in the programmerstorage unit 204 and executed on the programming processor 202.

The programmer 112 can include the input device receptacle 206. Theinput device receptacle 206 is a source of the programmable devices 128.For example, the input device receptacle 206 can be a tray that conformsto the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) standards. Theinput device receptacle 206 can be used for holding unprogrammeddevices.

The programmer 112 can include the output device receptacle 214. Theoutput device receptacle 214 is a destination for the programmabledevices 128 that have been provisioned. For example, the output devicereceptacle 214 can be an empty JEDEC tray for holding finished devices,a storage tube, a shipping package, or other similar structure.

The programmer 112 can include the device adapters 208. The deviceadapters 208 are mechanisms for coupling to the programmable devices128.

The device adapters 208 can have a variety of configurations. Forexample, the device adapters 208 can include destination sockets 210 formounting the programmable devices 128 such as chips. The sockets aremechanisms for holding and interfacing with the programmable devices128. The device adapters 208 can be modular and removable from theprogrammer 112 to accommodate different socket configurations. Thedevice adapters 208 can include a latch mechanism (not shown) forattaching to the programmer 112.

The destination sockets 210 can hold the programmable devices 128. Thedestination sockets 210 can be used to read or write new information tothe programmable devices 128.

The programmer 112 can include the device placement unit 212. The deviceplacement unit 212 is a mechanism for positioning the programmabledevices 128 in one of the destination sockets 210.

The device placement unit 212 can be implemented in a variety of ways.For example, the device placement unit 212 can be a robotic arm, a pickand place mechanism, or a combination thereof. Although the deviceplacement unit 212 can be described as a rail-based positioning system,it is understood that any system capable of positioning one of theprogrammable devices 128 in the destination sockets 210 can be used.

The device placement unit 212 can retrieve one or more of theprogrammable devices 128 that are blank from the input device receptacle206. The device placement unit 212 can transfer the programmable devices128 to the destination sockets 210 of the device adapters 208.

Once the programmable devices 128 are engaged and secured by the deviceadapters 208, the device programming process can begin. The programmer112 can program a local copy of the information into the programmabledevices 128 in one of the destination sockets 210. For example, thelocal copy of the programming information can be in a pre-programmedmaster device, from a file in local storage, or from a remote server.

Once programming is complete, the device placement unit 212 cantransport the programmable devices 128 that have been programmed to theoutput device receptacle 214. The device placement unit 212 cantransports any of the programmable devices 128 that have errors to areject bin (not shown).

The programmer 112 can include a programmer identification 216. Theprogrammer identification 216 is a unique value for the programmer 112.The programmer identification 216 can be used to identify the programmer112. The programmer identification 216 can be incorporated into a deviceidentification of each of the programmable devices 128 to indicate whichprogrammer 112 was used to program the devices.

Referring now to FIG. 3, therein is shown an example of one of thetrusted devices 130. The trusted devices 130 are components having thesecure storage unit 326 and the secure execution unit 324. The trusteddevices 130 are active components capable of executing secure code inthe secure execution unit 324 to perform operations on the secure datain the secure storage unit 326.

The trusted devices 130 can be provisioned by the secure programmingsystem 100 of FIG. 1 to include security information. For example, thetrusted devices 130 can include the device identification 302, securityalgorithms 304, a security certificate 306 and the key pairs 150 eachhaving the private key 152 and the public key 154.

In an illustrative example, the security keys 106 can comprise one ormore of the key pairs 150 for a public key encryption system. Thesecurity information can be encrypted with the public key 154 of one ofthe key pairs 150 and decrypted using the private key 152. However, itis understood that the system can take advantage of different securityparadigms including symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption, dataencryption standard (DES), hash codes, PGP, or other cryptographicsystems. In a further example, the key pairs 150 can be used to providea digital signature using two different sets of the security keys 106.In the digital signature example, a message or payload can be encryptedusing the private key 152 of a first element and the public key 154 of asecond element. The resulting encrypted message can be decrypted usingthe public key 154 of the first element and the private key 152 of thesecond element. If the message is successfully decrypted, then it showsthat the message was encrypted by the first element thus established thedigital signature.

The device identification 302 is a data value that can uniquely identifyeach of the trusted devices 130 individually. For example, the deviceidentification 302 can include serial numbers, markers, security codes,or a combination thereof.

The security algorithms 304 are secure code elements 314. The securityalgorithms 304 can provide an application programming interface toexternal systems to control security functionality on the trusteddevices 130. The security algorithms 304 can be customized to each ofthe trusted devices 130. For example, the security algorithms 304 caninclude the code elements 314 such as source code, executable code, alibrary module, a link module, configuration files, initialization data,hardware control codes, or a combination thereof.

The security certificate 306 is a security object associated with one ofthe trusted devices 130. The security certificate 306 can bepre-programmed to certify that a device has a particular root of trustembedded in it. The security certificate 306 can have one or more of thepublic key 154 in them. The security certificate 306 can includesecurity data such as key pairs 150, security keys 106 of FIG. 1,encrypted passwords, or a combination thereof.

The security certificate 306 can be a securely stored data element. Forexample, the security certificate 306 can be encrypted securityinformation that must be decrypted before use.

The key pairs 150 can be security elements having two or more separatesecurity keys used to encrypt and decrypt data. For example, the keypairs 150 can include the private key 152 and the public key 154. Thesecurity information encrypted with the public key 154 can be decryptedusing the private key 152.

The key pairs 150 can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example,the key pairs 150 can be configured to have different key lengths tochange the level of security. The private key 152 and the public key 154can be implemented with the same or different character lengths.

Although the key pairs 150 are described in the context of a public keyencryption system, it is understood that the key pairs 150 can also beused to implement other encryption paradigms. For example, the key pairs150 can be used for symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption,standards based encryption, hashing algorithms, or any other encryptionsystem.

The trusted devices 130 can include security functionality implementedas security modules. For example, the trusted devices 130 can include anidentification module 316, an authentication module 320, a cryptographymodule 318, and a code signing module 322.

The identification module 316 can verify the identification of one ofthe programmable devices 128. The identification module 316 can receivethe device identification 302 of one of the programmable devices 128 anddetermine if the device identification 302 is correct. For example, thedevice identification 320 can be compared to a list of known devices,compared against a checksum, compared using a computational algorithm,or similar techniques.

The authentication module 320 can authenticate one or more of theproperties of one of the programmable devices 128. The authenticationmodule 320 can receive the device identification 302, the securityparameters including one or more of the security keys 106 to determineif the security parameter provided is valid. The authentication module320 can also be used to validate the device identification 302.

The validity of the security parameter can be determined in a variety ofways. For example, the validity of the security parameter can bevalidated by successfully decoding the security parameter using one ofthe security keys available to one of the trusted devices 130. Inanother example, the validity of the security parameters can bevalidated by decrypting one of the security parameters and comparing itto a predefined value stored within one of the trusted devices 130.

The cryptography module 318 is a unit for performing cryptographicoperations. The cryptography module 318 can provide an interface toperform computationally intensive operations such as encryption anddecryption. The other security modules can be coupled with thecryptography module 318 to provide security functionality.

The cryptography module 318 can be implemented in a variety of ways. Forexample, the cryptography module 318 can include hardware, software, ora combination thereof. The cryptography module 318 can provide astandardized interface to allow the other security modules to performthe required cryptographic functions.

The code signing module 322 is a unit for securing code elements 314.The code signing module 322 can encrypt code elements, decrypt codeelements, and control the execution of the code elements. The codesigning module 322 can be used to ensure that one of the code elements314 can be executed on one of the trusted devices 130 by verifying thatthe security information associated with the code element 314.

In an illustrative example, each of the code elements 314 can include anexecution parameter that indicates the model number of the trusteddevices 130 where the code elements 314 are authorized to execute. Thecode signing module 322 can be used to validate the execution parameter,compare the parameter to the model number information in one of thetrusted devices 130, and only allow execution of the code elements 314if the two values match. This could be used to limit operation of thecode element 314 to a particular high end phone or other specificdevice.

One of the advantages of the trusted devices 130 is that the trusteddevices 130 can identify and authenticate the security informationinternally to increase the level of security. The trusted devices 130can validate the security information using the security keys 106 storedin the secure storage unit 326.

The trusted devices 130 can provide a measure of trust when the trusteddevices 130 are secure. The trusted devices 130 can have a variety ofconfigurations. For example, the trusted devices 130 can have a systemidentification, an authentication mechanism, encryption and decryptionfunctionality, code signing to protect executables, trusted storage, anda trusted execution environment.

The system identification can include elements that identify or describehardware and software components. The trusted devices 130 can have theability to securely authenticate its identity and other properties. Thetrusted devices must be able to securely encrypt and decryptinformation. The trusted devices 130 must be able to authenticatetrusted code. The trusted devices must have secure storage and executioncapability.

The secure programming system 100 must be able to implement a system ofroots of trust. The roots of trust (RoT) are a set of functions in atrusted computing environment that are always trusted by the system. Forexample, the roots of trust can serve as a separate secure computeengine controlling the trusted computing platform cryptographic process.Alternatively, devices can implement the roots of trust as hardware andsoftware components that are inherently trusted. They are secure bydesign and can be implemented in hardware or protected by hardware. Theycan be used to perform security critical functions such as measuring orverifying software, protecting cryptographic keys, and performing deviceauthentication.

The roots of trust can provide a variety of security functionalityincluding: on the fly encryption, detection and reporting of tamperingwith secure data, detection of active tampering attempts, digital rightsmanagement, and other security functions.

Implementing secure operation in a mobile hardware space is difficultbecause of the higher risk resulting from physical access to thedevices. Such secure devices require the hardware to work closely withprotected data and software to insure secure operation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, therein is shown an example of one of the datadevices 132. The data devices 132 are components having the securestorage unit 326. The data devices 132 are passive components capablestoring the secure data in the secure storage unit 326 and providingaccess to the stored data when accessed by one of the trusted devices130 of FIG. 1.

The data devices 132 can be provisioned by the secure programming system100 of FIG. 1 to include security information. For example, the datadevices 132 can include the device identification 302, the securityalgorithms 304, the security certificate 306 of FIG. 3, and the keypairs 150 each having the private key 152 and the public key 154. Inthis case, the data within the secure storage unit 326 may be internallyaccessed from within the data devices 132.

The secure storage unit 326 can be used as a write once data area.Information can be programmed into the secure storage unit 326 and thenthe secure storage unit 326 can be processed to eliminate the access tothe data within the secure storage unit 326 from outside the datadevices 132.

In an illustrative example, one of the data devices 132 can be a flashmemory device. Within the flash memory device, the flash memory can bepartitioned into different blocks. Some of the blocks can be used toprovide general memory space. Some of the other blocks may be configuredto be private and used to store information that is not accessible fromoutside the flash memory drive. A private block can be used to form thesecure storage unit 326.

In another example, the secure storage unit 326 can be a dedicatedmemory area on one of the data devices 132 that is protected by asecurity fuse. The data can be written to the secure storage unit 326and then external access can be eliminated by blowing the security fuse.

Each of the data devices 132 can include a trusted certificate 402. Thetrusted certificate 402 is a data structure that can include othersecurity parameters. For example, the trusted certificate 402 caninclude the device identification 302, the security algorithms 304, andthe key pairs 150.

Referring now to FIG. 5, therein is shown an example of the deviceidentification 302. The device identification 302 is a data structurethat can be used to uniquely identify one of the programmable devices128 of FIG. 1, the secure programming system 100 of FIG. 1, theprogrammer 112 of FIG. 1, or a combination thereof. The deviceidentification 302 can be used to describe the programmable devices 128including the data devices 132 and the trusted devices 130.

The device identification 302 can have a variety of configurations. Forexample, the device identification 302 can include an incoming root oftrust 504, serial number markers 512, firmware markers 506,manufacturing markers 510, product markers 508, operating markers 514,original equipment manufacturer markers 516 (OEM markers), the key pairs150, or similar markers.

The incoming root of trust 504 is a security element. The incoming rootof trust 504 can be programmed into one of the programmable devices 128at manufacture or programming time. For example, the incoming root oftrust 504 can be a serial number and a key value. In another example,the incoming root of trust 502 can be an embedded identifier, such as adevice identifier implanted at silicon creation time in one of theprogrammable devices 128.

The serial number markers 512 are security elements that can include aserial number for one of the programmable devices 128. The deviceidentification 302 can include one or more of the serial number markers512.

The firmware markers 506 are security elements that can describe oridentify the firmware used in one of the programmable devices 128. Thefirmware markers 506 can include a version number, a calculated checksumvalue, a partial or complete hash value, a text string identifier, anumeric identifier, or a combination thereof. For example, one of theprogrammable devices 128 can be a circuit board having firmwareinstalled on the board. The firmware markers 506 can identify theversion number for each separate firmware element. The firmware versioninformation could be used to coordinate interoperability between codeelements 314 of FIG. 3 in the programmable devices 128. In anotherexample, the firmware markers 506 can include a calculated hashchecksum, such as a MD5 hash or fingerprint. The hash checksum can beused to verify the data integrity of the firmware by comparing the hashchecksum against a hash calculated against the live version of thefirmware. Any difference would indicate that the firmware has beenmodified.

The manufacturing markers 510 are security identifiers that can describeone or more manufacturing properties. For example, one of theprogrammable devices 128 can include the manufacturing markers 510 suchas location information, programmer identification, programming unitidentification, manufacturing time information, manufacturing locationinformation, time windows, manufacturing execution system identificationinformation, factory identification, vendor identification,manufacturing equipment information, or manufacturing relatedparameters.

The product markers 508 are security elements that can describe theproducts used with the programmable devices 128. The product markers 508can include related manufacturers, branding information, product lineinformation, model information, or other product related parameters.

The operating markers 514 are security elements that can describe theoperating properties for the programmable devices 128. The operatingmarkers 514 can include operating voltage, voltage patterns, currentlevels, power draw, heating factors, critical operating frequencies,operating sequence information, or operating parameters.

The OEM markers 516 are security elements that can describe the originalequipment manufacturers or related contract manufacturers who can usethe programmable devices 128. The OEM markers 516 can includemanufacturer identification 518, license information, time windows,authorized locations, authorized factories, product lot size, serialnumber ranges, or other OEM related parameters.

The device identification 302 is a multi-variable data structure thatincludes security information for the programmable devices 128. The dataelements of the device identification 302 can be individually encryptedwithin the device identification 302. The device identification 302itself can be encrypted. The device identification 302 can be specificto each one of the programmable devices 128 both in terms of the dataelements forming the device identification 302 and the degree ofencryption and other security mechanisms used to protect the deviceidentification 302 itself.

One of many advantages of the device identification 302 is theenablement of access to specific data elements within the deviceidentification 302 by decrypting only the elements required. Byencrypting both the device identification 302 and the individual dataelements, a finer granularity of security can be provided.

Referring now to FIG. 6, therein is shown an example block diagram ofthe secure programming system 100. The secure programming system 100includes several secure objects, such as a first secure object 602 and asecond secure object 604. The first secure object 602 may interface orcommunicate with the second secure object 604.

The secure objects represent any hardware or software objects havingsecurity mechanisms or protocols for protection from unauthorizedinterception or duplication. For example, the secure objects mayinclude, but is not limited to, one of the data devices 132, one of thetrusted devices 134, an electronic component, an electronic device, aboot loader, a firmware (FW), an operating system (OS), a softwareapplication, a hardware programmer, a peripheral device, a website, amachine, etc.

The first secure object 602 may interface with the identification module316, the authentication module 320, the cryptography module 318, and thecode signing module 322. For illustrative purposes, although the secondsecure object 604 is shown connected only with the first secure object602, the second secure object 604 may also be connected with anycombination of the identification module 316, the cryptography module318, the authentication module 320, the code signing module 322. Thefirst secure object 602 or the second secure object 604 is protectedfrom security breach using, but is not limited to, a combination of theidentification module 316, the cryptography module 318, theauthentication module 320, the code signing module 322, any other units,modules, or functions of the secure programming system 100.

The identification module 316 generates an identity of a secure objectto protect the secure object from an unauthorized access to the secureobject. The identification module 316 extracts identification tokens 624(ID tokens). The ID tokens 624 include information that is employed toverify an identity before access to a secure object is granted. The IDtokens 624 may include, but are not limited to, a user identification, aserial number of a device, a device identification, etc.

The ID tokens 624 may be extracted by the identification module 316using any secure information or mechanism, including, but is not limitedto, a root of trust code 620 (RoT code) and a root of trust data 622(RoT data). For example, the RoT data 622 may represent informationassociated with a digital birth certificate of a device.

The term root of trust (RoT) referred to herein refers to a set offunctions in a trusted or secured computing module that includeshardware components, software components, or a combination of hardwareand software components. For example, these functions may be implementedin, but are not limited to, a boot firmware, a hardware initializationunit, a cross-checking component/chip, etc. Also, for example, thefunctions may be implemented using, but is not limited to, a separatecompute engine that controls operations of a cryptographic processor.

The ID tokens 624 may be extracted from the RoT data 622 using the RoTcode 620. The ID tokens 624 may be cryptographically protected and somay be decrypted only by the RoT code 620. The ID tokens 624 may beunique such that each secure object has its own identification and sonone of the secure objects shares its identification with another secureobject.

The RoT code 620 includes instructions or commands that are used todecipher data that may be used to identify a source of a device or todecode content. The RoT data 622 includes information that is protectedand may only be decoded using the RoT code 620.

The RoT code 620 and RoT data 622 may be provided or generated by anysecure mechanisms. For example, the RoT code 620 and RoT data 622 may beprogrammed into a secure storage unit of a device during programming orconfiguring the device.

Also, for example, the RoT code 620 and RoT data 622 may be sent from ahost server or system to the secure programming system 100 in a securemanner such that only the secure programming system 100, which has beenauthorized and validated to receive the RoT code 620 and RoT data 622.Further, for example, the host server or system may include the securitymaster system 104 of FIG. 1 that sends the security keys 106 of FIG. 1to the secure programming system 100 for identification orauthentication before the secure programming system 100 may be able toreceive or decrypt information from the security master system 104.

As an example, the secure storage unit may include, but is not limitedto, a one-time programmable memory or any other storage units that areknown only to authorized users or devices. As another example, thesecure storage unit may include, but is not limited to, a storage ormemory that is accessible only with authorized information oridentification without which permission would be denied.

For example, the RoT code 620 and RoT data 622 may be preprogrammed intoa device, such as the secure objects, at the time when the device isprogrammed or configured before the device is integrated or operated ina production environment or system. Also, for example, the productionenvironment or system may include, but is not limited to, a portabledevice, a computer, a server, an electronic circuit board, etc.

The authentication module 320 can be used to verify whether anidentification token 624 is authorized for access to a secure object.After the identification module 316 extracts the ID tokens 624, theauthentication module 320 verifies the ID tokens 624 to identify whethera secure object is a valid object that may communicate with anauthorized system to send or receive secure information. For example, ifone of the ID tokens 624 is not valid, the secure object may not beallowed to exchange information with the programmer 112 of FIG. 1.

After the authentication module 320 verifies that the ID tokens 624 ofthe secure object is valid, the authentication module 320 may generate acombination of one of the ID tokens 624, a key token 628, and acryptographic token 626. The key token 628 includes information employedfor authentication of the ID tokens 624. The cryptographic token 626includes information employed for cryptographically encode or decodeinformation for information security or data confidentiality.

In one or more embodiments, the ID tokens 624, the key token 628, or thecryptographic token 626 may be generated from the RoT data 622 using theRoT code 620. In one or more embodiments, the ID tokens 624, the keytoken 628, or the cryptographic token 626 may be cryptographicallyprotected and so may be decrypted only by the RoT code 620.

The cryptography module 318 can provide data encryption and decryptionfor secure information exchanged between the secure objects or between asecure object and an external system. The external system that mayexchange the secure information with the secure objects may include, butis not limited to, the programmer 112, the security master system 104, ahost system, etc.

In one or more embodiments, after the identification module 316 extractsthe ID tokens 624 or the authentication module 320 validates the IDtokens 624, the cryptography module 318 may generate the ID tokens 624,the key token 628, and the cryptographic token 626. The cryptographictoken 626 may be generated by the cryptography module 318 using the RoTcode 620 to decode information from the RoT data 622.

In one or more embodiments, the cryptography module 318 may generate theID tokens 624 or the key token 628 using the cryptographic token 626 tofurther decode other information from the RoT data 622. In anembodiment, elimination of a data breach is greatly simplified using thecryptography module 318 having multiple levels of protection thatimprove information security or data confidentiality.

In one or more embodiments, the cryptography module 318 may includecryptography methods including, but is not limited to, symmetric-keycryptography, public-key cryptography, etc. For example, thecryptography module 318 may include a cryptographic method in which bothsender and receiver may share the same key or different keys that may becomputed using a predetermined algorithm.

As an example, the cryptographic method may include, but is not limitedto, block cipher methods, cryptographic hash functions, etc. As anotherexample, the cryptographic method may include, but is not limited to,Data Encryption Standard (DES), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES),triple-DES, MD4 message-digest algorithm, MD5 algorithm, Secure HashAlgorithms 1 and 2, etc.

As an example, the cryptographic method may include, but is not limitedto, a public-key or an asymmetric key cryptography in which twodifferent but mathematically related keys may be used—the public key andthe private key. As another example, a public key system may beconstructed so that calculation of one key (e.g., a private key) may becomputationally infeasible from the other key (e.g., a public key), eventhough they are related. Both public and private keys may be generatedsecretly as an interrelated pair.

For example, in public-key cryptosystems, a public key may be freelydistributed, while its paired private key may remain secret. In apublic-key encryption system, a public key may be used for encryption,while a private or secret key may be used for decryption.

The code signing module 322 verifies the integrity of code informationexchanged between systems or devices. The code signing module 322 canverify whether content of exchanged information has been altered ortampered.

For example, the code signing module 322 may include a process ofdigitally signing executables or scripts to confirm a software author orgenerator and validates that an executable code or script has not beenaltered or corrupted. Also, for example, a code may be verified asaltered or corrupted since it was signed by way of, but is not limitedto, a cryptographic hash, checksum, etc.

In one or more embodiments, after the identification module 316 extractsthe ID tokens 624 or the authentication module 320 validates the IDtokens 624, the code signing module 322 may generate the ID tokens 624,the key token 628, and the cryptographic token 626. The cryptographictoken 626 may be generated by the code signing module 322 using the RoTcode 620 to decode information from the RoT data 622.

In one or more embodiments, the code signing module 322 may generate theID tokens 624 or the key token 628 using the cryptographic token 626 tofurther decode other information from the RoT data 622. In anembodiment, elimination of data breach is greatly simplified using thecode signing module 322 having multiple levels of protection thatimprove information security or data confidentiality.

A secure object, such as the first secure object 602 or a second secureobject 604, may interface with a secure execution engine 606. The secureexecution engine 606 includes a mechanism that manages or controlsoperations of the secure object. The secure execution engine 606includes a secure execution unit 324 and a secure storage unit 326.

The secure execution unit 324 is a block that executes codes or computerinstructions in a protected environment. The environment in which thesecure execution unit 324 operates may create a flexible, scalablesolution to problems of creating a large-scale, wide-area secureenvironment in which only trusted, authenticated application code canoperate. The secure execution unit 324 may enable the programmer 112 andthe secure objects to work together in a secure environment.

The secure execution unit 324 may execute trusted codes that have beenstored by the secure storage unit 326 when the secure objects werepreviously programmed, configured, tested, or certified before thesecure objects operate in an end-user production environment. Thetrusted codes executed by the secure execution unit 324 may be signedand authenticated.

The secure storage unit 326 stores and provides trusted codes for thesecure execution unit 324 to execute. In an embodiment, secureenvironment is greatly simplified using the secure execution engine 606that stores program codes in the secure storage unit 326 and executesthe program codes using the secure execution unit 324, thereby providingan additional level of protection against data breach.

For example, the trusted codes may be previously stored in a securestorage or memory area of the secure objects when the secure objectswere previously programmed, configured, tested, or certified. Also, forexample, the trusted codes may be decoded by the cryptography module 318using information sent from the programmer 112 to the secure objects.

Referring now to FIG. 7, therein is shown a second example block diagramof the secure programming system 100. The example diagram shows a dataflow of secure information during programming of the secure objects.

For example, the identification tokens 624, depicted as ID1, ID2, andID3, may include serial number markers 512 of the secure objects. Theserial number markers 512 are unique information assigned to each secureobject. The serial number markers 512 of a secure object can bedifferent from another of the serial number markers 512 of anothersecure object such that there may not be two secure objects share thesame serial number marker. The serial number markers 512 may begenerated by the programmer 112 of FIG. 1. Each serial number marker maybe assigned to each secure object by the programmer 112.

An incoming root of trust 504 (In_RoT) of FIG. 5 may include, but is notlimited to a programmer identification 216 of FIG. 2. The In_RoT 504,denoted as In_RoT 504, includes information that have been previouslyprogrammed or configured prior to programming the secure objects. In oneor more embodiments, the previously programmed information may have beenprogrammed into a combination of adapters for programming the secureobjects, the programmer 112, and the secure objects. For example, theIn_RoT 504 can be a serial number implanted in the secure object atsilicon manufacture time.

The In_RoT 504 may be separate or different from the ID tokens 624. TheIn_RoT 504 may include information previously programed that isdifferent from information to be programmed into the secure objects.

For example, the In_RoT 504 may include, but is not limited to, serialnumbers or unique keys that were embedded or programmed into componentsat the time of manufacturing the components. Also, for example, the timeof manufacturing the components may be, but is not limited to, a timewhen the components were manufactured at silicon level or a system levelprior to programming the components.

In one or more embodiments, the In_RoT 504 may be ingested or input by amanufacturing execution system 702 (MES). The In_RoT 504 may be combinedwith a programmer generated unique RoT, such as the ID tokens 624, togenerate a unique system-level RoT. The In_RoT 504 may includeinformation from a digital birth certificate that has been previouslyprogrammed into a component during the manufacture of the component.

The In_RoT 504 may include any number of manufacturing markers 510,denoted as P1 and P2. The manufacturing markers 510 include informationassociated with components when the components are manufactured. Forexample, the manufacturing markers 510 may include, but is not limitedto, a component ID, a programmer ID, a location of manufacture of acomponent, a date and a time of manufacture of a component, etc.

The manufacturing execution system 702 is a computerized system used inmanufacturing for product quality control purposes. The MES 702 maytrack and document transformation of raw materials to finished goods.The MES 702 may provide information about how current conditions on aplant floor can be optimized to improve production output. The MES 702work in real time to enable control of multiple elements of a productionprocess (e.g., inputs, personnel, machines, support services, etc.).

In one or more embodiments, the MES 702 may receive the In_RoT 504 alongwith the ID tokens 624 to program the programmable devices 128. TheIn_RoT 504 and the ID tokens 624 may be used to generate the deviceidentification 302 of a secure object. The device identification 302includes information that is unique and associated with only one deviceor secure object.

The device identification 302 may include unique information that may beprogrammed into a system, such as a first board 712 or a second board714. The first board 712 or a second board 714 are board-level systemswith several secure objects assembled and connected with each other inthe systems.

The first board 712 may include a system public key 154 forcryptography. The system public key 154 may be implemented in the firstboard 712 for a public key encryption system. The system public key 154may be part of one of the key pairs 150 of FIG. 1. Security informationmay be encrypted by a secure object using the public key 154 of FIG. 1of one of the key pairs 150 and decrypted by the first board 712 usingthe private key 152.

The first board 712 may use the system public key 154 to encrypt secureinformation and send to a secure object, which may decrypt the encryptedinformation using the private key 152. Although the system public key154 is described for the first board 712, it is understood that a systempublic key may be implemented in the second board 714.

System 100 illustrates only one of many possible arrangements ofcomponents configured to provide the functionality described herein.Other arrangements may include fewer, additional, or differentcomponents, and the division of work between the components may varydepending on the arrangement. For example, in some embodiments, some ofthe security modules may be omitted, along with any other componentsrelied upon exclusively by the omitted component(s). As another example,in an embodiment, system 100 may further include multiple serial numbersor other system identifiers.

Referring now to FIG. 8, therein is shown an example of provisioning oneof the trusted devices 130. The provisioning process can programsecurity data into the programmable devices 128 and associate thetrusted devices 130 with another one of the trusted devices 130. Inaddition, the provisioning process can associate the trusted devices 130with the secure programming system 100.

The secure programming system 100 can encode one or more of the serialnumber markers 512 using the public key 154 of the secure programmingsystem 100 and program the encrypted values in the programmable devices128. For example, the programmable devices 128 can include a fieldprogrammable gate array 804, a programmable central processing unit 806(CPU), an embedded multimedia memory controller 808 (eMMC), a microCPU810, or a similar device.

Thus, each of the programmable devices 128 can have one of the serialnumber markers 512 that can only be decrypted using the private key 152of FIG. 1 associated with the secure programming system 100. In anillustrative example, the serial number markers 512 can represent asystem identification 814 of the secure programming system 100. This canprovide a security linkage between the security programming system 100and the programmable devices 128. The security linkage indicates arelationship between the security programming system 100 and theprogrammable devices 128.

Although the provisioning process is described using the private key 152of the secure programming system 100, it is understood that one of theserial number markers 512 of a different system component can be used.For example, the programmable devices 128 can be provisioned using theserial number markers 512 for the programmer 112 of FIG. 1.

After being provisioned, the programmable devices 128 can then beinstalled on one of the trusted devices 130, such as a circuit board,that can also be provisioned with the public key 154 of the secureprogramming system 100. The circuit board can then identify theprogrammable devices 128 by decrypting the encoded values 812 andcompare the results to confirm that the serial number markers 512 match.

In another example, the secure programming system 100 can receive theserial number markers 512 for one of the trusted devices 130, such asthe circuit board, and provision the programmable devices 128 with theencoded values 812 generated by encrypting the serial number markers 512of the circuit board and programming the information into theprogrammable devices 128. After installation, the circuit board candecrypt the encoded values 812 and compare the serial number markers 512to the serial number of the circuit board.

The trusted devices 130 can be provisioned with the deviceidentification 302. The device identification 302 for one of the trusteddevices, such as the circuit board, can include the incoming root oftrust 504, the serial number markers 512, the firmware markers 506, themanufacturing markers 510, or a similar identifier. For example, theserial number markers 512 can include the identifiers ID1, ID2, and ID3associated with different types of the programmable devices 128. Each ofthe programmable devices 128 associated with the appropriate identifiercan be identified and authenticated by the circuit board where thecircuit board has been provisioned with the public key 154 of theappropriate component.

Although the provisioning process is described as using the serialnumber markers 512 to identify the related and authorized systems, it isunderstood that other elements within the device identification 302 canbe used as well. For example, the programmable devices 128 can useanother portion of the device identification 302, such as themanufacturing markers 510 or the firmware markers 506, to establish thesecurity linkage between the trusted devices 130, such as the circuitboard, and the programmable devices 128.

An advantage of the encoding a portion of the device identification 302using the public key 154 associated with one of the elements of thesecure programming system 100 is to provide an authentication mechanismto limit the interoperability of the programmable devices 128 and thetrusted devices 130. By provisioning the programmable devices 128 with avalue encoded by the public key 154 of one of the elements, the trusteddevices 130 can verify that the programmable devices 128 are authorizedto operate with the trusted devices 130 using the private key 152.

Referring now to FIG. 9, therein is shown an example of a managed andsecurity processing system 902 (MSP system). The MSP system 902 cansecurely deploy and provision the programmable devices 128.

The MSP system 902 can individually configure data devices and active,trusted devices with cryptographic information to provide a secureprogramming and operation environment. The MSP system 902 can allow thesecure programming of the programmable devices 128 at a secure originalequipment manufacturer (OEM) site.

The MSP system 902 can be one of the embodiments of the secureprogramming system 100 of FIG. 1. The elements of the MSP system 902 canbe implemented using the element of the secure programming system 100.

The MSP system 902 can support the operation of the system distributedin part across multiple locations or premises. The MSP system 902 caninclude an OEM development premise 940 and a factory premise 942. TheOEM development premise 940 can be used to prepare for the actualprogramming and provisioning of the programmable devices 128. The OEMdevelopment premise 940 can be used to prepare programming informationfor multiple factories. The OEM development premise 940 is a locationwhere an OEM can prepare the programming project 944 having theinformation for configuring a set of secure devices, such as theprogrammable devices 128, secure elements, trusted devices 130 of FIG.1, or other similar devices.

Although there are differences between the different types of securedevices, the terms are generally understood to be interchangeable andare general in nature. The secure devices, secure elements, programmabledevices 128, trusted devices 130, and other similar elements can be usedinterchangeably in this description for convenience and brevity.

The OEM development premise 940 can take firmware images 914 that areused to provision the programmable devices 128 and prepare theprogramming project 944. The programming project 944 can then besecurely transferred to the factory premise 942 and used to control theprogramming of the programmable devices 128.

The OEM development premise 940 can have a set of secure manufacturingsystems and data stores for facilitating creating the programmingproject 944. For example, the OEM development premise 940 can includeOEM Key Material 904, an OEM Security boot loader 906, the OEM firmwaredevelopment system 908, an OEM mastering tool 910, a Firmware UpdateService 912, and an OEM Management system 924.

The factory premise 942 is a location for programming and provisioningthe programmable devices 128. The factory premise 942 can be aprogramming center, a fabrication facility, a contract manufacturersite, or a similar location. In an embodiment, the factory premise 942is where the programmer 112 and the programmable devices 128 are locateand operated.

The MSP system 902 can include a security boot loader 918. The securityboot loader 918 is the secure programming code that can be executed atboot time on the programmable devices 128 to insure compliance with thesecurity protocols. The OEM security boot loader 906 creates deviceidentity, creates the ability to accept an encrypted data stream andde-crypt on device and initializes a secure run time environment on thedevice so that firmware can run securely on the device.

The MSP system 902 can also include secure firmware 920. The securefirmware 920 is software code and data to be embedded in non-volatilememory of the programmable devices 128. The secure firmware 920 can betransferred in an encrypted state and decrypted at the programmer 112.

The MSP system 902 can include a firmware decrypt key 922. The firmwaredecrypt key 922 can be used to decrypt the secure firmware 920 that hasbeen encrypted using the encryption key related to the firmware decryptkey 922. For example, the firmware decrypt key and the encryption keycan be part of a symmetric key pair used for encryption.

The MSP system 902 can include firmware images 914 from the OEM: Thefirmware images 914 are embedded application code that will be loaded byOEM security boot loader 906 and run on the programmable devices 128during and after manufacturing.

The MSP system 902 can include the OEM key material 904: The OEM keymaterial 904 can include information such as a silicon vendor deviceauthentication key 955, an OEM device certificate signature key 947required to sign an OEM device certificate 946, and an OEM devicecertificate template 950.

The OEM certificate template 950 is a block of information used to formthe OEM certificate 951. It includes the basic required information forthe OEM certificate 951. The OEM certificate 951 is a block ofinformation that defines an OEM user 968. The OEM certificate 951 caninclude an OEM identifier 966, an OEM public key 962 and an OEM privatekey 952. The OEM identifier 966 is a value that uniquely identifies theOEM.

A silicon vendor is an entity that can manufacture or provide theprogrammable devices 128. The silicon vendor can be identified with asilicon vendor identifier 956. The silicon vendor identifier 956 is avalue linked to the silicon vendor. For example, the silicon vendoridentifier 956 can be linked to the company that actually makes theintegrated circuits or components that form the programmable devices128. The silicon vendor can also be a company that pre-configures theprogrammable devices 128 before delivering them for programming by thesystem.

The MSP system 902 can include a OEM firmware development system 908.The firmware development system 908 supports the development of firmwareimages 914 for deployment to the programmable devices 128.

The MSP system 902 can include the OEM Mastering Tool 910 (OMT): The OEMmastering tool 910 is a security application or system that can bind theOEM security boot loader 906 to the firmware images 914. The OEMmastering tool 910 can sign and encrypt the firmware images 914 andprepare the firmware images 914 for field updates. The field upgradescan allow the firmware deployed in the programmable devices 128 to bechanged remotely in a secure fashion. The OEM mastering tool 910 canproduct the secure firmware 920 by encrypting the firmware images 914using the firmware decrypt key 922. The OEM mastering tool 910 caninclude a HSM or TSM and be implemented in hardware or software.

The MPS system 902 can include an OEM management system 924. The OEMmanagement system 924 is a system for defining a programming project 944for an OEM user. The programming project 944 is an information packagethat defines a secure production run of the programmable devices 128.

The OEM management system 924 can bind the OEM Security Boot Loader 906,the firmware images 914, the OEM certificate 951, the OEM key materials904, and a production count 948 to the programming project 944. Once theprogramming project 944 is initially created, the programming project944 can updated to include the references, code, and data of the OEMsecurity boot loader 906, the firmware images 914, the OEM key materials904, the OEM certificate 951, and the production count 948. The bindingprocess means that the information is part of the parameters of theprogramming project 944. The OEM management system 924 can also bind theprogramming project 944 to a specific security programming system at thefactory premise 942. The programming project 944 can include the systemidentification 814 of FIG. 8 of a programming system or subsystem suchas the secure programming system 100, the programming unit 110, theprogrammer 112, or a combination thereof. Then the programming project944 can only be performed on a system having the system identification814.

The production count 948 is an indicator describing the number of securedevices to be produced in the production run. The production count 948can be compared to an incrementing number that is updated when a securedevice begins or completes production. The programmer 112 receiving theprogramming project 944 can use the production count 948 to limit thenumber of devices programmed and provisioned to prevent unauthorizedproduction of the programmable devices 128. During production, a currentcount 978 can indicate the current number of the products that have beenproduced. The system can stop programming the devices by comparing thecurrent count 978 to the production count 948 and stopping when thecurrent count 978 is equal to the production count 948.

The OEM management system 924 can be configured in a variety of ways.For example, the OEM management system 944 can be implemented in ashared configuration and generate the programming project 944 fordeployment to multiple OEMs each having their own factory, such as thefactory premise 942. The OEM management system 924 can be implementedusing the secure master storage system 102 of FIG. 1, the securitymaster system 104 of FIG. 1, the secure programming system 100 of FIG.1, or a combination of systems and subsystems thereof.

The MSP system 902 can include a factory management system 930. Thefactory management system 930 is a system for managing the secureprogramming components at the factory premise 942. The factorymanagement system 930 can receive the programming project 944 from theOEM management system 944 and the decrypt and distribute themanufacturing information to the other security and programming systemslocated at the factory premise 942.

The factory management system 930 can be implemented in a variety ofways. For example, the factory management system 930 can be implementedwith the manufacturing execution system 702 of FIG. 7, the programmingprocessor 202 of FIG. 2, the host computer system, or another similarprocessing system.

The MSP system 902 can include a factory security system 932. Thefactory security system is an HSM based security appliance thatgenerates keys and certificates to be programmed into the programmabledevices 128. The factory security system 932 can support a multi-tenantOEM architecture by isolating the security information of one OEM fromthat of another. This allows the factory security system 932 to programand provision different sets of the programmable devices 128 fordifferent OEMs in different programmers.

The factory security system 932 can be configured in a variety of ways.For example, the factory security system 932 can be implemented usingthe security master system 104 of FIG. 1, the security controller 114 ofFIG. 1, the programming processor 202 of FIG. 2, the first securitymodule 116 of FIG. 1, the second security module 118 of FIG. 1, the nthsecurity module 120 of FIG. 1, or a combination thereof. The factorysecurity system 932 can be implemented in a centralized or distributedfashion using one or multiple security components in the MSP system 902.

The factory security system 932 can provide high security encryptionservices including key pair generation, encryption, decryption,certificate management, secure storage, secure execution, and othersimilar security processing features. The factory security system 932can also support secure development, secure mastering, secure deploymentof data and code, secure provisioning, secure programming, and secureupdates.

The factory security system 932 can perform device authentication basedon device certificates, deployment management and versioning, digitallifecycle management, and application management. The factory securitysystem 932 can provide symmetric encryption, hash functions, dataencapsulation, digital signatures, key agreement and transport, keymanagement, and user access control.

The factory security system 932 can include a factory security systemcertificate 933 for authenticating the identity of the factory securitysystem 932. The factory security system certificate 933 can be used tosign information transferred from the OEM development premise 940 andthe OEM management system 924 to the factory management system 930 andthe factory security system 936. The factory security system 932 caninclude a factory security system data encryption key 980 and a factorysecurity system data authentication key 982. The keys can be used tosecurely encrypt, decrypt, sign, and authenticate secure information.

The MSP system 902 can include a host system 936 at the factory premise942. The host system 936 is a computer system for controlling theexecution of the programming project 944 and managing the communicationbetween the programmer 112 and Factory security system 932.

The host system 936 can be implemented in a variety of ways. Forexample, the host system 936 can be implemented using the securitycontroller 114, the programming processor 202, or another similarcomputing system coupled to the secure processing system 100. The hostsystem 936 can be coupled to the factory security system 932, theprogrammer 112, the factory management system 930, or other similarsystems.

The MSP system 902 can include the programmer 112 for programming theprogrammable devices 128. The programmer 112 can receive a set of blankor partially programmed devices and securely program the programmabledevices 128 with the information from the programming project 944.

The programmer 112 can create serial data lists 964 for programming theprogrammable devices 128. The serial data lists 964 are lists of devicespecific data to be programmed into the programmable devices 128. Thiscan include the firmware images 914, the OEM device certificate 946,code, data, or other information. The serial data lists 964 can varybased on the individual device information, such as serial numbers,device identification, data certificates, or similar device specificparameters.

The MSP system 902 can include device certificates to protect theprogrammable devices 128. The device certificates can include siliconvendor device certificates 926, original equipment manufacturer devicecertificates 946 (OEM device certificates 946), or other devicecertificates. The device certificates can include information about theprogrammable devices 128 including public keys, the deviceidentification 302 of FIG. 3, a silicon vendor identifier 956, the OEMidentifier 966, or other similar information.

The silicon vendor device certificate 926 is set of data elements thatsecurely define the identity of one of the secure elements, such as theprogrammable devices 128 or trusted device 130 of FIG. 1. The siliconvendor device certificate 926 can include the device identification 302of FIG. 3, a silicon vendor public key 954, and/or other securityinformation. Information encrypted by a silicon vendor private key 958can be decrypted using the silicon vendor public key 954 of a siliconvendor key pair 960.

The silicon vendor device certificate 926 can be programmed into asecure storage unit of the secure element by the silicon vendor ormanufacturer before the secure elements are transferred to othermanufacturers or users. The silicon vendor device certificate 926 can bestored in a write-once secure storage unit where additional informationmay be added to the silicon vendor device certificate 926, but existinginformation cannot be erased or modified. Portions of the secure storageunit can be locked when no further changes are required. The securestorage unit can include one or more data elements, such as multipledevice certificates and other related security data.

The silicon vendor device certificates 926 can be implemented in avariety of ways. For example, the silicon vendor device certificates 926can be implemented using the manufacturing markers 510 of FIG. 5, thesecurity certificate 306 of FIG. 3, the security algorithm 304 of FIG.3, the product markers 508 of FIG. 5, the operating markers 514 of FIG.5, the incoming root of trust 504 of FIG. 5, the trusted certificate 402of FIG. 4, or another similar data element.

The MSP system 902 can include a device data tracking system 934 forproviding device level programming statistics in real time. The devicedata tracking system 934 can track device level information for thesecure programming system 100 in the local factory or for devices beingprovisioned remotely. The device data tracking system 934 can trackdevice level information for each of the programmable devices 128configured by the programmer 112 in the MSP system 902. The device datatracking system 934 can track data such as the silicon vendor devicecertificates 926, the system identification 814 of FIG. 8, the deviceidentification 302, or other data elements that have been programmedinto devices. The device data tracking system 934 can track devicestatus including validity status, configuration status, duplicatestatus, or other device level status.

The MSP system 902 can include a device provisioning service 938. Thedevice provisioning service 938 is a system for provisioning theprogrammable devices 128 over the Internet. The device provisioningservice 938 can be a combination of hardware and software that cansecurely deliver provisioning information to the programmable devices128 in the field. The device provisioning service 938 can distributesecurity information, data updates, software updates, and other securityand operational information needed for continued secure operation of thedevices.

The MSP system 902 can include a firmware update service 912. Thefirmware update service 912 is a system for updating the firmware of theprogrammable devices 128 over the Internet, such as an OEM cloud 928.The firmware update service 912 can securely deliver firmware updates916 to a system having one or more of the programmable devices 128 andupdate the programmable devices 128 with the new firmware. The firmwareupdates 916 are software and data packages used to update the firmwarein the programmable devices 128. The firmware update service 912 can bepart of a system having security software and hardware that can deploythe firmware updates 916 and associated security information to ensurethe programmable devices 128 are updated securely.

The MSP system 902 can be operated in a variety of ways. In anillustrative example, the MSP system 902 can be operated based on asecure element use case 970. The secure element use case 970 candescribe one way to use the MSP system 902 to securely program theprogrammable devices 128 where the programmable devices 128 are alreadyconfigured with firmware and have the silicon vendor device certificate926 pre-installed at the silicon vendor facility.

The secure element use case 970 can include two major steps. In step 1,the silicon vendor device certificate 926 is extracted from one of theprogrammable devices 128 and the device is authenticated. In step 2, theOEM device certificate 946 is created based on the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926 of the authenticated device. Then the OEM devicecertificate 946 is programmed into the device.

In this use case, an HSM-based security system, such as the factorysecurity system 932, can be integrated as part of the secure programmingsystem, such as a system for programming secure microcontroller unitswith integrated security areas. The integrated security areas can beprotected areas of memory that can be written once and not changed. Thisallows the non-modifiable storage of security data such as keys, code,or certificates.

The system can include an OEM management system 924, the factorymanagement system 930, a job creation and job runner system, and thedevice data tracking system 934 to manage the status data for theprogrammable devices 128. The various systems can be implemented in avariety of ways. For example, the OEM management system 924, the factorymanagement system 930, a job creation and job runner system, and thedevice data tracking system 934 can all be executed as software on thehost system 936. In another example, the systems can each run ondedicated hardware.

In this security model, the factory premise 942 can act as a proxy forthe OEM user and can execute the functionality of the OEM managementsystem 924. This effectively implies that the OEM user 968 implicitlytrusts the factory premise 942 with providing the OEM key materials 904and the OEM certificate 951 and setting the production count 948 for theprogrammable devices 128. Since this activity is done on the host system936 of the programming unit 110 of FIG. 1, the job setup, the generationof the OEM Key Material 904, and the configuration of the secureprogramming system 100 be done by authorized personnel at a physicallysecure location within the factory premise 942.

Some implementations can focus on the provisioning of the OEM devicecertificates 946 onto the programmable devices 128 that are beingconfigured as secure elements. However, it is understood that securingthe flow of the OEM key material 904 and secure updating of theproduction count 948 by the OEM systems are protected by physicalsecurity means and secure data channels.

The OEM data from the OEM development premises 940 is secure andencrypted from OEM management system 924 all the way to the factorysecurity system 932 as the data is encrypted and tied to a specific oneof the factory security system 932. For example, the programming project944 can be encrypted using the factory security system certificate 933which can only be decrypted by the intended one of the factory securitysystem 932.

In another example, the transfer of the OEM key material 904, includingthe OEM device certificate signature key 947 is done securely becausethe material is encrypted during transmission. The OEM devicecertificate signature key 947 can include a private key component.

In an illustrative example, since the private key 152 of theprogrammable devices 128 never leaves the device and the import of theOEM Device Certificate signature key 947 into OEM management system 924is done securely. This can reduce the need for physical security sincethe data is encrypted.

In another illustrative example, the MSP system 902 can be operatedbased on a microcontroller unit use case 972 where the MSP system 902 isused for provisioning the programmable devices 128 and trusted devices130 of FIG. 1, such as secure microcontroller units. The securemicrocontroller units can include secure processing and secure storagefacilities.

The MCU use case 972 can include two primary steps. In the first step,the OEM security boot loader 906 can be programmed into the programmabledevices 128. Afterward, the programmable devices 128 can be booted usingthe OEM security boot loader 906 to create device authentication keypairs 974 and device decryption key pairs 976 for the programmabledevices 128. Then the OEM device certificate 946 can be constructed,programmed, and signed using portions of the two key pairs.

In the second step, the MSP system 902 can read the silicon vendordevice certificates 926 and authenticate the programmable devices 128.The firmware decrypt key 922 can be encrypted with device decryption keyfrom the silicon vendor device certificate 926. The encrypted firmwareand the encrypted firmware decrypt key 922 can be programmed on theprogrammable devices 128.

The OEM security boot loader 906, the OEM firmware development 908, theOEM mastering tool 910, the OEM management system 924, and thegeneration of the OEM Key Material 904 can all be performed at the OEMdevelopment premise 940. The overall project definition and thedetermination of the production count 948 are controlled by OEM user968.

The OEM software execution environment can be hosted on a computer atthe OEM development premise 940. All the OEM Roots of Trust are securelytransported from the OEM development premise 940 to the factory premise942. The factory management system 930, the factory security system 932,and the device data tracking system 934 can execute at the factorypremise 942 on the host system 936.

In an embodiment, because the first step requires secure provisioning ofthe programmable devices 128, it must be performed in a secure facility,such as an OEM trusted factory, a silicon vendor factory, an OEMfactory, or a programming center. Step 2 can then be performed at afacility with a lower level of security, such as an untrusted Factory, aContract Manufacturer, third party partner, or a similar type offacility.

In this Security model, the OEM Roots of Trust and the programmingproject 944 are defined at the OEM development premise 940 and thedistributed to the factory premise 942. It is important that an OEM usershould manager their own Roots of Trust to improve security of thesupply chain for the OEM products.

In an illustrative example, the MCU use case 972 requires physicalsecurity because the key pair 150 of FIG. 1 of the programmable devices128 is generated in the factory security system 932 and can potentiallybe exposed at the factory premise 942. The physical connection betweenthe programmable devices 128 and the programmer 112 is in the clear, sosomeone with physical access to the systems of the factory premise 942could snoop and steal important information. Thus, physical securityshould be implemented to protect the security information.

In an alternate example of the MCU use case 972, the programmabledevices 128 can be blank and not pre-programmed with the silicon vendordevice certificate 926. In this case, the OEM device certificate 946 canbe used for authentication. In addition, the firmware decrypt key 922can be encrypted using the public decryption key from the OEM devicecertificate 946, such as the OEM public key 962.

Referring now to FIG. 10, therein is shown a detailed example of thesecure element use case 970. The secure element use case 970 describesthe process for securely configuring the secure elements, such as theprogrammable devices 128 of FIG. 1. The MSP system 902 of FIG. 9 cansecurely deploy and provision each of the programmable devices 128 ofFIG. 1 according to the secure element use case 970.

In the secure element use case 970, the secure elements can beinstantiated, transferred, and managed at different premises. Thepremises can include different types of locations such as a siliconmanufacturer 1004, an OEM location 1006, a programming center 1008, aprogrammer location 1010, and a device location 1012. Each of thepremises represents a location where some type of secure programmingrelated actions can occur. Further, the use case can include data andactions embedded at the programmer 112 of FIG. 1 and the device location1012.

The secure element use case 970 can include three different sequences ofevents, each for performing a different secure activity. In a firstsequence 1014, the MSP system 902 of FIG. 9 can initialize the factorysecurity system 932 of FIG. 9 using OEM management system 924 of FIG. 9.This can be performed at the OEM development premise 940 of FIG. 9, thefactory premise 942 of FIG. 9, or another similar location.

The MSP system 902 can also initialize the factory management system 930of FIG. 9 at the factory premise 942, the programming center 1008, oranother similar location. The factory management system 930 can beupdated with the current count 978, a silicon vendor public key 954 ofFIG. 9, an OEM private key 952 of FIG. 9, and a OEM device certificatetemplate 950 of FIG. 9. The factory management system 930 can forwardthe information to the factory security system 932 for secureprocessing.

In the second sequence 1016, the secure elements are programmed at thesilicon vendor (SV) factory with a silicon vendor device certificate 926of FIG. 9.

In a third sequence 1018, the MSP system 902 can cryptographicallyauthenticate each of the devices, such as the programmable devices 128or trusted devices 130 of FIG. 1, using the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926 that was pre-installed in the second sequence 1016. Thenthe OEM device certificate 946 of FIG. 9 can be constructed andprogrammed into the programmable devices 128.

The OEM device certificate 946 can be constructed by re-using the publickey portions of the device identity key pair from the silicon vendordevice certificate 926, such as the silicon vendor public key 954.Therefore, the silicon vendor public key 954 can be used to calculatethe OEM device certificate 946, so both certificates are certified usingthe same certificate. Alternatively, a different key pair can be used torepresent the OEM identity separate from the silicon vendor key pair.This can be performed by the factory security system 932 or on thesecure element itself.

In the second sequence 1016, step 1020 is performed at the siliconmanufacturer 1004. The silicon manufacturer 1004 can be the company thatcreates the raw secure elements. The silicon vendor device certificates926 of FIG. 9 are created for each of the secure elements, such as theprogrammable devices 128 or trusted devices 130. The silicon vendordevice certificates 926 can include unique information about each of thesecure elements, such as the device identification 302 of FIG. 3, serialnumbers, product type, manufacture date, or similar device information.

Step 1022 is also performed at the silicon manufacturer 1004. Each ofthe silicon vendor device certificates 926 is signed with the siliconvendor private key 958 of FIG. 9 of the silicon manufacture with thesilicon vendor identifier 956 of FIG. 9. Signing the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 encrypts the data of the certificate. The datacan be decrypted only with the silicon vendor public key 954.

Step 1024 is also performed at the silicon manufacturer 1004. Each ofthe programmable devices 128 is programmed with the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 that was signed with the silicon vendor privatekey 958. The silicon vendor device certificate 926 signed by the siliconvendor private key 958 shows that the device is approved or provided bythe silicon vendor. Successfully decrypting the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926 with the silicon vendor public key 954 can authenticatethat the programmable device 128 is from the silicon vendor that signedit.

The second sequence 1016 can uniquely tag each of the programmabledevices 128 with a unique and individual instance of the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 that has been further signed with the siliconvendor private key 958. This provides that the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926 can be decoded using the silicon vendor public key 954to verify that the silicon vendor device certificate 926 was provided bythe silicon vendor having the silicon vendor identifier 956. This allowsthe factory or other device user to determine the authenticity of theprogrammable devices 128.

The first sequence 1014 is performed at the silicon manufacturer 1004,the OEM location 1006, and the programming center 1008. The firstsequence 1014 can configure the programming components at theprogramming center 1008 for secure programming.

In a step 1030, the silicon vendor can generate the silicon vendor keypair 960 having a silicon vendor public key 954 and a silicon vendorprivate key 958. This can be a silicon vendor key pair 1080 having asilicon vendor private key 958 and silicon vendor public key 954.

In a step 1032, the silicon vendor public key 954 can be transferred tothe OEM user 1006. The silicon vendor public key 954 can be sent in theclear and unencrypted. For example, the silicon vendor public key 954can be sent over a network link.

In a step 1034, the OEM user 1006 can register the OEM certificate 951of FIG. 9 with the factory management system 930 of FIG. 9 and thefactory security system 932 of FIG. 9 of the programming center 1008.The OEM certificate 951 can include the OEM public key 962 of FIG. 9 todecrypt and authenticate information that was encrypted or signed withthe OEM private key 962. The registration of the OEM certificate at theprogramming center 1008 can be performed securely to provide theprogramming center 1008 with the security information for the OEM user1006. The registration can be performed to introduce and identify theOEM credentials into the factory management system 930 and the factorysecurity system 932.

In a step 1035, the factory management system 930 and the factorysecurity system 932 can send a factory security system encryption key980 to the OEM management system 924 in a secure exchange process. Thefactory security system data encryption key 980 can be used to encryptinformation sent from the OEM user 1006 to the factory management system930 and the factory security system 932 to support the secure transferof information. The factory security system 932 can send the factorysecurity system data encryption key to the OEM management system 924.

In a step 1036, the OEM user 1006 can create aa package having the SVdevice authentication public key, the OEM device certificate signaturekey, and the OEM device certificate template 950. The OEM devicecertificate signature key can be created in OEM management system 924 orimport from an external security system such as an external HSM. Thepackage can be encrypted in the OEM management system 924 using thefactory security system data encryption key 980 and then sent to thefactory management system 930 and the factory security system 932.Because the package has been encrypted using the factory security systemdata encryption key 980 of the factory security system 932, it can onlybe decrypted using the factory security system data authentication key982 of the factory security system 932. The OEM device certificatetemplate 950 is a template for the OEM device certificate 946 thatincludes the public key 152 of the device having the deviceidentification 320 of FIG. 3 and then signed by the OEM PrivateSignature key. The OEM public key 962 is a cryptographic value tied tothe OEM user 1006. The OEM public key 962 have a variety of formats. Forexample, the key can be formatted as an X.509 public key certificate oranother public key format. The X.509 standard defines a public keycertificate to show the ownership of a public key. The OEM public key962 can provide validation information for a public key. The OEM publickey 962 can be used for device certification in the programming center1008.

In a step 1038, the OEM user 1006 can send the package having thesilicon vendor public key 954, the OEM private key 952, and the OEMdevice certificate template 950 to the programming center 1008. Theinformation in the package can then be used to sign the programmabledevices 128.

The third sequence 1018 is performed on the programmer 112 and theprogrammable devices 128 at the programming center 1008 or a factorypremise 942. The third sequence 1018 can authenticate the secureelements, provision and cryptographically sign the secure elements withthe OEM information, and verify that the provisioned devices areauthorized.

In a step 1040, the programmer 112 can read the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926 of each of the programmable devices 128 to beprogrammed. The silicon vendor device certificates 926 are transferredin the clear from the programmable devices 128 to the programmer 112.

In a step 1042, the silicon vendor device certificates 926 can betransferred from the programmer 112 to the factory management system 930and the factory security system 932. The factory management system 930controls the programming operation and the factory security system 932will manage the device and system security.

In a step 1044, the silicon vendor device certificates 926 are receivedat the factory management system 930 of the programming center 1008. Theprogrammer 112 is located at the factory premise 942 of FIG. 9.

In a step 1046, the programmable devices 128 can be authenticated usingthe silicon vendor public key 954. This step confirms that the devicesto be programmed are provided by the silicon vendor having the siliconvendor identifier 956. The programmable devices 128 are authenticatedwhen the silicon vendor device certificate 926 that was signed with thesilicon vendor private key 958 in sequence 1 is decrypted using thesilicon vendor public key 954. If the information in the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 can be accessed using the silicon vendor publickey 954, then the device is authenticated.

In a step 1048, the OEM device certificate 946 is formatted based on theOEM device certificate template 950. Then OEM device certificate 946 issigned with the OEM private key 952.

In a step 1050, the OEM device certificate 946 is transferred to theprogrammer 112. Because the OEM device certificate 946 has beenencrypted and signed with the OEM private key 952, it can be transferredin the clear.

In a step 1052, the programmer 112 can build the serial data lists 964.The serial data lists 964 are list of device specific data to beprogrammed into the programmable devices 128. This can include theserial numbers, the device identification, the OEM device certificate946, manufacturing markers, code, data, markers, mac addresses, devicespecific keys, or other information.

In a step 1054, the device specific data included on the serial datalists 964 can be programmed into the programmable devices 128 by theprogrammer 112. The serial data lists 964 can indicate where the devicespecific data should be stored. For example, the OEM device certificate946 can be stored in the secure storage unit.

In a step 1056, the silicon vendor device certificate 926 and the OEMdevice certificate 946 are re-extracted and retrieved from the secureelements, such as the programmable devices 128 or the trusted devices130, by the programmer 112. Even though copies of the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 and the OEM device certificate 946 may alreadyexist in the factory security system 932 or elsewhere in the system, thedevice certificates are re-extracted to verify the programmable devices128 and to detect potential duplicate production runs, unauthorizedduplication, or other improper activities. The validation steps can beused to ensure that the device certificates have been programmed withouterrors. This can include programming failures, device damages, biterrors, or similar errors.

In a step 1058, the silicon vendor device certificate 926 and the OEMdevice certificate 946 are sent to the factory security system 932 forverification and further use. The retrieved device certificates can beused for a second round of authentication to verify that the proper onesof the programmable devices 128 were programmed. This can be used toprevent unauthorized duplicate of the programmable devices 128 and toprevent counterfeiting the devices.

In a step 1060, the silicon vendor device certificate 926 and the OEMdevice certificate 946 are verified to make sure that the programmabledevices 128 are proper. This can include validating the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 using the silicon vendor public key 954 andvalidating the OEM device certificate 946 with the OEM public key 962.Validation of the device certificate involves comparing the public keyin the device certificate with the public key in the silicon vendorcertificate 1078 to ensure they match. In addition, the certificate canbe processed through a certificate validation tool (not shown) to ensurethat the format of the certificate is valid. The signature on thecertificate is also validated using the factory security system 932.

In a step 1062, the verification results are sent back to the programmer112. In a step 1064, the programmer 112 can processed the completeddevices. If the programmable devices 128 are not validated, then theprogrammer 112 can identify the devices with a validation statusindicating a bad device and transfer them to a bad devices receptacle(not shown) for disposal. If the programmable devices 128 are properlyverified, then the programmable devices 128 can be updated with averified state value and passed along as verified components.Alternatively, the programmer 112 can generate a validation report tolog the device identification and the validation status of each of theprogrammable devices 128 in the production run. The programmable devices128 that are invalid can be removed or destroyed at a later time.

3.0. Functional Overview

The secure programming system 100 can configure and provision the secureelements, such as the programmable devices 128 and the trusted devices130 of FIG. 1, in a variety of ways. Different levels of security can beimplemented depending on the type of operations that are performed onthe secure elements. Different use cases and processes flows can beimplemented on the same physical systems to accommodate the needs ofdifferent end users.

Referring now to FIG. 11, therein is shown an example of a provisioningprocess flow 1102 for the programmable devices 128 of FIG. 1 inaccordance with one or more embodiments. The various elements of theprovisioning process flow 1102 may be performed in a variety of systems,including systems such as system 100 of FIG. 1 described above. In anembodiment, each of the processes described in connection with thefunctional blocks described below may be implemented using one or morecomputer programs, other software elements, and/or digital logic in anyof a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer, whileperforming data retrieval, transformation, and storage operations thatinvolve interacting with and transforming the physical state of memoryof the computer.

The provisioning process flow 1102 is responsible for programming theprogrammable devices with the target payload 1114 provided by the secureprogramming system 100. The provisioning process flow 1102 can beresponsible for initiating a provisioning job in the secure programmingsystem 100, receiving the programmable devices 128, calculating theencrypted payload 1116, and provisioning the programmable devices 128.The provisioning process flow 1102 can describe the programming of thesystem identification 814 of FIG. 8 and the device identification 302 ofFIG. 3 into the programmable devices 128, as well as describe thesecurity linkage between them.

The provisioning process flow 1102 can have a variety of configurations.For example, the provisioning process flow 1102 can include an initiateprovisioning job module 1104, a receive device information module 1106,a calculate encrypted payload module 1108, and a provisioning devicesmodule 1110.

The initiate provisioning job module 1104 can receive a job controlpackage 1112 and the target payload 1114 for programming into theprogrammable devices 128. The job control package 1112 comprisesinstructions and parameters for provisioning the programmable devices128 with the target payload 1114.

The target payload 1114 is the information to be encrypted andprogrammed into the programmable devices 128. The target payload 1114can include data, code, security keys, and other information. Forexample, the target payload 1114 can be secure firmware code to beexecuted on the trusted devices 130 of FIG. 1. In another example, thetarget payload 1114 can include different data elements combinedtogether, such as a set of additional security keys and one or moresoftware modules. For example, the job control package 1112 can be partof the programming project 944 of FIG. 9.

The job control package 1112 comprises the information needed toconfigure and program the programmable devices 128 with the targetpayload 1114. The job control package 1112 can include programminginstructions, security information, programmer configurationinformation, device configuration information, and other similar jobinformation.

In an illustrative example, the job control package 1112 can containinstructions for provisioning a specific set of the programmable devices128. The job control package 1112 can include one or more of thesecurity keys 106 of FIG. 1 to be used to encrypt the target payload1114 before programming into the programmable devices 128. The securitykeys 106 can represent the roots of trust used for encrypting the targetpayload 1114.

The job control package 1112 can include the security keys 106 foridentifying the secure programming system 100, the programming unit 110of FIG. 1, the programmer 112 of FIG. 1, the target payload 1114, andother security parameters. For example, the programmer identification216 of FIG. 2 can be encrypted using the public key 154 of FIG. 1associated with the programmer 112. The programmer identification 216 ofFIG. 2 can be decrypted only with the private key 152 of FIG. 1 of thesecurity keys 106 associated with the programmer 112. The identifiersfor the other system elements can likewise by encrypted and decryptedusing the public key 154 and the private key 152 associated with thatelement.

The job control package 1112 can include the programmer identification216 of the programmer 112 for executing the production run. If theprogrammer identification 216 of the job control package 1112 does notmatch that of the programmer 112 in use, then the production job willnot execute. This allows the restriction of jobs to only execute on adesignated programmer 112. Similarly, the job control package 1112 caninclude a premise identification, a factory identification, or otherlocation and equipment identifiers to ensure that a job control package1112 can only run on known equipment in known locations. This canprevent unauthorized production of secure devices.

After the initiate provisioning job module 1104 has completed, thecontrol flow can pass to the receive device identification module 316 ofFIG. 3. The receive device information module 1106 can receiveinformation about the programmable devices 128 to be programmed.

The secure programming system 100 can be coupled to a manufacturingexecution system 702 of FIG. 7. The MES 702 can be configured to sendthe serial numbers of the programmable devices 128 to be programmed tothe secure programming system 100.

For example, the MES 702 can read the serial numbers from theprogrammable devices 128 using optical or radio frequency techniques. Inanother example, the MES 702 can be programmed with a list of the serialnumbers or other parameters related to the programmable devices 128 tobe programmed. In yet another example, the secure programming system 100can read the serial numbers of the programmable devices 128 directly.After the receive device information module 1106 has completed, thecontrol flow can pass to the calculate encrypted payload module 1108.

The calculate encrypted payload module 1108 can encrypt the targetpayload 1114 to form an encrypted payload 1116. The encrypted payload1116 can be formed using the public key 154 associated with one or moreportions of the device identification 302 of FIG. 3 for each of theprogrammable devices 128.

The calculate encrypted payload module 1108 can encrypt the targetpayload 1114 in a variety of ways. For example, the target payload 1114can be encrypted using the public key 154 associated with the serialnumber markers 512 of FIG. 5, the firmware markers 506 of FIG. 5, themanufacturing markers 510 of FIG. 5, the product markers 508 of FIG. 5,the operating markers 514 of FIG. 5, the OEM markers 516 of FIG. 5, orsimilar values within the device identification 302 for one of theprogrammable devices 128. The encrypted payload 1116 can be decryptedusing the private key 152 associated with the selected parameter fromthe device identification 302.

In another example, the calculate encrypted payload module 1108 cancalculate the encrypted payload 1116 using the information from thesecure programming system 100. The target payload can be encrypted usingthe public key 154 associated with the secure programing system 100, theprogramming unit 110, the programmer 112, the device adapters 208 ofFIG. 2, or another similar parameter.

The calculate encrypted payload module 1108 can form the encryptedpayload 1116 using different portions of the target payload 1114. Forexample, the encrypted payload 1116 can be formed by encrypting theentire target payload 1114, subsets of the target payload 1114, or acombination of the target payload 1114 and other information.

The calculate encrypted payload module 1108 can use the security modulesto process the target payload 1114. The calculate encrypted payloadmodule 1108 can use any combination of the identification module 316,the authentication module 320 of FIG. 3, the cryptography module 318 ofFIG. 3, or the code signing module 322 of FIG. 3 to perform the securityoperations required to form the encrypted payload 1116.

The identification module 316 can be used to verify the identificationof each of the programmable devices 128. The authentication module 320can be used to authenticate the parameters associated with each of theprogrammable devices 128. The cryptography module 318 can be used toencrypt and decrypt the target payload 1114 and the encrypted payload1116. The code signing module 322 can be used to verify the validity ofthe code elements 314 of FIG. 3 within the target payload 1114. Afterthe calculate encrypted payload module 1108 completes, the control flowcan pass to the provisioning devices module 1110.

The provisioning devices module 1110 can program each of theprogrammable devices 128 with the encrypted payload 1116. Theprovisioning devices module 1110 can interface with the hardware of theprogrammer 112 to transfer the encrypted payload 1116 to theprogrammable devices 128 coupled to the programmer 112.

For example, the provisioning devices module 1110 can program each ofthe programmable devices 128, such as the data devices 132 of FIG. 1,with the files of encrypted payload 1116. The provisioning devicesmodule 1110 can include specific information for configuring eachdifferent device type of the programmable devices 128. The data devices132 can be coupled to the programmer 112 using the device adapters 208.

In another example, the provisioning devices module 1110 can provisioneach of the programmable devices 128, such as the trusted devices 130.The trusted devices 130 can include smart phones, circuit boards,security devices, or similar devices. The trusted devices 130 can becoupled to the programmer 112 directly in the device adapters 208, via adata link such as a wired or wireless connection, or a combinationthereof.

In an illustrative example, the secure programming system 100 canestablish the identity of each of the programmable devices 128 based onthe components used to build the system. For each of the trusted devices130, such as smart phones or circuit boards, the device identification302 can include serial numbers or other identifiers for each of thecomponents within the trusted devices 130. The identity of theprogrammable devices 128 can span hardware, software, and/or firmwarecomponents.

Because the device identification 302 can include the OEM markers 516,the identification can be unique across all manufacturers and vendors.In addition, because the device identification 302 can be encrypted bythe secure programming system 100 at manufacturing time, the identity ofthe programmable devices 128 can be stored securely off the device andon the device using the device identification 302 and the security keys106.

One advantage of the secure programing system 100 is that the systemidentification 814 of FIG. 8 enables a higher level of device security.By encoding the programmable devices 128 with an encrypted version ofthe system identification 814, the programmable devices 128 have ahigher level of trust and traceability for the remainder of thelifecycle of each of the programmable devices 128.

Another additional advantage of the secure programming system 100 isthat the manufacturing supply chain is more secure because the use ofthe system identification 814 provides a root of trust at the silicondevice level. The system identification 814 is programmed into theprogrammable devices 128 and is based on and includes uniquemanufacturing data. The system identification 814 allows compromisedfirmware to be detected because the firmware would not have the systemidentification 814 available in the proper encrypted form.

The block diagram illustrates only one of many possible flows for systemgeneration. Other flows may include fewer, additional, or differentelements, in varying arrangements. For example, in some embodiments, thesecurity modules may be omitted, along with any other elements reliedupon exclusively by the omitted element(s). As another example, in anembodiment, a flow may further include a hash generation module.

Referring now to FIG. 12, therein is shown an example of a securemanufacturing process flow 1202 for the programmable devices 128 of FIG.1 in accordance with one or more embodiments. The various elements ofthe provisioning process flow 1202 may be performed in a variety ofsystems, including systems such as system 100 of FIG. 1 described above.In an embodiment, each of the processes described in connection with thefunctional blocks described below may be implemented using one or morecomputer programs, other software elements, and/or digital logic in anyof a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer, whileperforming data retrieval, transformation, and storage operations thatinvolve interacting with and transforming the physical state of memoryof the computer.

The provisioning process flow 1202 authenticates the programmable device128 in the programmer 122 of FIG. 1, generates the OEM devicecertificate 946, programs a target payload 1220 into the programmabledevice 128, and verifies the silicon vendor device certificate 926 andthe OEM device certificate 946.

The provisioning process flow 1202 can have a variety of configurations.For example, the provisioning process flow 1202 can include an extractdevice certificate module 1204, an authenticate device module 1206, agenerate OEM device certificate module 1208, a program device module1210, a generate validation status module 1212, and a sort devicesmodule 1214. The control flow of the provisioning process flow 1202 canpass from module to module in sequential order.

The extract device certificate module 1204 can extract the siliconvendor device certificate 926 from the programmable devices 128. Thesilicon vendor device certificate 926 can be encrypted by the siliconvendor private key 958 and stored in the secure storage unit 326 of FIG.3 of the programmable devices 128 mounted in the programmer 122 ofFIG. 1. The programmer 122 can access the secure storage unit 326 toextract the silicon vendor device certificate 926 that had beenpre-programmed into the programmable devices 128 by the silicon vendor.

The authenticate device module 1206 can authenticate the silicon vendordevice certificate 926 to demonstrate that the programmable devices 128in the programmer 122 are authentic devices from the silicon vendor. Toauthenticate the programmable devices 128, the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926 that had previously been encrypted using the siliconvendor public key 958 can be decrypted using the silicon vendor publickey 954. If the decryption is successful, then the programmable devices128 are valid and from the silicon vendor. Otherwise, if the siliconvendor device certificate 926 cannot be successfully decrypted using thesilicon vendor public key 954, then the devices are not authentic.

The generate OEM device certificate module 1208 can create the OEMdevice certificate 946 using the OEM device certificate template 950 ofFIG. 9. The OEM device certificate 950 can include information about theprogrammable devices 128 retrieved from the silicon vendor devicecertificate 926. After the OEM device certificate 950 has been created,it can be signed using the OEM private key 952.

The program device module 1210 can transfer the OEM device certificate950 and the target payload 1220 from the programmer 122 to theprogrammable devices 128. The OEM device certificate 950 can be storedin one of the secure storage units 326 of FIG. 3 of the programmabledevices 128. The target payload 1220 can be programmed into a secure ornon-secure portion of the programmable devices 128. The target payload1220 can include the firmware image 914, the firmware update 916 of FIG.9, the security algorithm 304 of FIG. 3, or other code or data to bedeployed in the programmable devices 128.

The generate validation status module 1212 can retrieve the siliconvendor data certificate 926 and the OEM device certificate 946 from theprogrammable devices 128 after the target payload 1220 had beenprogrammed. The silicon vendor data certificate 926 can be authenticatedagainst the silicon vendor public key 954. The OEM device certificate946 can be authenticated against the OEM public key 962. If both of thedevice certificates are authenticated, then the programmable devices 128are valid.

The sort devices module 1214 can generate a validation status 1222 ofthe programmable devices 128 based on the authentication of the devicecertificates. If both of the device certificates are valid, then thevalidation status 1222 is set to valid. If either or both of the devicecertificates are invalid, then the validation status 1222 is set toinvalid.

If the validation status 1222 shows that one or both of the devicecertificates are invalid, then the current one of the programmabledevices 128 being programmed is invalid and should not be used. Theprogrammer 122 can transfer the invalid one of the programmable devices128 to an output receptacle for disposal.

The sort devices module 1214 can also generate a validation report thatlists the serial number or device identification of the programmabledevices 128 that failed validation. Reporting the attempted use ofunauthorized devices can increase security by identifying potentialfraud and abuse.

Verifying the integrity of the silicon vendor data certificate 926 andthe OEM device certificate 946 after the programmable devices 128 havebeen programmed increases the level of security by showing that the samedevices that were initially loaded into the programmer 112 of FIG. 1 arethe devices that received the target payload 1114 of FIG. 11. Checkingthat the programmable devices 128 are authorized by the silicon vendorand double checking that the programmable devices 128 are authorized bythe silicon vendor and the OEM user 968 of FIG. 9 at completion helpsprevent unauthorized manufacture and reduces the likelihood ofcounterfeit products.

4.0. Example Embodiments

Examples of some embodiments are represented, without limitation, in thefollowing clauses:

According to an embodiment, a method of operation of a secureprogramming system comprises extracting a silicon vendor devicecertificate from a programmable device mounted in a programmer,authenticating the silicon vendor device certificate using a siliconvendor public key, generating an OEM device certificate for theprogrammable device based on the silicon vendor device certificate, theOEM device certificate signed with an OEM private key, transferring theOEM device certificate and a target payload to the programmable devicein the programmer, extracting the OEM device certificate and the siliconvendor device certificate from the programmable device after the OEMdevice certificate is transferred into the programmable device,generating a validation status by authenticating the OEM devicecertificate using the OEM public key and authenticating the siliconvendor device certificate using the silicon vendor public key, thevalidation status set to invalid if the either the OEM devicecertificate or the silicon vendor device certificate are notsuccessfully authenticated, and sorting the programmable device into anoutput receptacle of the programmer based on the validation status.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises writing the OEM devicecertificate into a secure storage unit on the programmable device.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises extracting the siliconvendor device certificate from a secure storage unit of the programmabledevice.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises moving the programmabledevice into a bad device receptacle at the programmer.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises creating a job controlpackage having a programmer identification of the programmer.

According to an embodiment, a method of operation of a secureprogramming system comprises receiving a job control package having atarget payload, extracting a silicon vendor device certificate from aprogrammable device mounted in a programmer, the silicon vendor devicecertificate encrypted by a silicon vendor private key, authenticatingthe silicon vendor device certificate in a factory security system usinga silicon vendor public key, generating an OEM device certificate forthe programmable device based on the silicon vendor device certificate,the OEM device certificate signed with an OEM private key, transferringthe OEM device certificate and the target payload to the programmabledevice in the programmer, the OEM device certificate stored in a securestorage unit of the programmable device, extracting the OEM devicecertificate and the silicon vendor device certificate from theprogrammable device after the OEM device certificate is transferred intothe programmable device, generate a validation status by authenticatingthe OEM device certificate using the OEM public key and authenticatingthe silicon vendor device certificate using the silicon vendor publickey, the validation status set to invalid if the either the OEM devicecertificate or the silicon vendor device certificate are notsuccessfully authenticated, and sorting the programmable device into anoutput receptacle based on the validation status.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises encoding an authorizedcount into the OEM device certificate.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises authenticating the OEMdevice certificate and the silicon vendor device certificate in thefactory security system.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises matching a silicon vendoridentifier from the silicon vendor device certificate with a storedvendor identifier from a security controller in the programming unit.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises generating a valid devicelist having a device identifier of the silicon vendor device certificatelinked to the validation status.

According to an embodiment, a secure programming system comprises aprogrammer for extracting a silicon vendor device certificate from aprogrammable device, transferring the OEM device certificate and atarget payload to the programmable device in the programmer, extractingthe OEM device certificate and the silicon vendor device certificatefrom the programmable device after the OEM device certificate istransferred into the programmable device, sorting the programmabledevice into an output receptacle of the programmer based on thevalidation status, and a factory security system, coupled to theprogrammer, for authenticating the silicon vendor device certificateusing a silicon vendor public key, generating an OEM device certificatefor the programmable device based on the silicon vendor devicecertificate, the OEM device certificate signed with an OEM private key,generating a validation status by authenticating the OEM devicecertificate using the OEM public key and authenticating the siliconvendor device certificate using the silicon vendor public key, thevalidation status set to invalid if the either the OEM devicecertificate or the silicon vendor device certificate are notsuccessfully authenticated.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises the OEM devicecertificate stored in a secure storage unit on the programmable device.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises the extracting thesilicon vendor device certificate extracted from a secure storage unitof the programmable device.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises the programmer moving theprogrammable device into a bad device receptacle.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a job control packagehaving a programmer identification of the programmer.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises the programmable deviceincludes the silicon vendor device certificate encrypted by the siliconvendor private key and the OEM device certificate and the silicon vendordevice certificate both stored in secure storage units, the programmerincludes a job control package having a target payload, and the factorysecurity system is for authenticating the silicon vendor devicecertificate using the silicon vendor public key.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises the OEM devicecertificate having an authorized count of the programmable device.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises the OEM devicecertificate and the silicon vendor device certificate both validated bya security controller of the factory security system.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a silicon vendoridentifier from the silicon vendor device certificate matching apre-installed silicon vendor identifier from a security controller inthe programming unit.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a valid device listhaving a device identifier of the silicon vendor device certificate ofthe programmable device.

Other examples of these and other embodiments are found throughout thisdisclosure.

5.0. Implementation Mechanism—Hardware Overview

According to one embodiment, the techniques described herein areimplemented by one or more special-purpose computing devices. Thespecial-purpose computing devices may be desktop computer systems,portable computer systems, handheld devices, smartphones, media devices,gaming consoles, networking devices, or any other device thatincorporates hard-wired and/or program logic to implement thetechniques. The special-purpose computing devices may be hard-wired toperform the techniques, or may include digital electronic devices suchas one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs) that are persistently programmed toperform the techniques, or may include one or more general purposehardware processors programmed to perform the techniques pursuant toprogram instructions in firmware, memory, other storage, or acombination. Such special-purpose computing devices may also combinecustom hard-wired logic, ASICs, or FPGAs with custom programming toaccomplish the techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 13, therein is shown a block diagram thatillustrates a computer system 1300 utilized in implementing theabove-described techniques, according to an embodiment. Computer system1300 may be, for example, a desktop computing device, laptop computingdevice, tablet, smartphone, server appliance, computing mainframe,multimedia device, handheld device, networking apparatus, or any othersuitable device.

Computer system 1300 includes one or more busses 1302 or othercommunication mechanism for communicating information, and one or morehardware processors 1304 coupled with busses 1302 for processinginformation. Hardware processors 1304 may be, for example, a generalpurpose microprocessor. Busses 1302 may include various internal and/orexternal components, including, without limitation, internal processoror memory busses, a Serial ATA bus, a PCI Express bus, a UniversalSerial Bus, a HyperTransport bus, an Infiniband bus, and/or any othersuitable wired or wireless communication channel.

Computer system 1300 also includes a main memory 1306, such as a randomaccess memory (RAM) or other dynamic or volatile storage device, coupledto bus 1302 for storing information and instructions to be executed byprocessor 1304. Main memory 1306 also may be used for storing temporaryvariables or other intermediate information during execution ofinstructions to be executed by processor 1304. Such instructions, whenstored in non-transitory storage media accessible to processor 1304,render computer system 1300 into a special-purpose machine that iscustomized to perform the operations specified in the instructions.

Computer system 1300 further includes one or more read only memories(ROM) 1308 or other static storage devices coupled to bus 1302 forstoring static information and instructions for processor 1304. One ormore storage devices 1310, such as a solid-state drive (SSD), magneticdisk, optical disk, or other suitable non-volatile storage device, isprovided and coupled to bus 1302 for storing information andinstructions.

Computer system 1300 may be coupled via bus 1302 to one or more displays1312 for presenting information to a computer user. For instance,computer system 1300 may be connected via a High-Definition MultimediaInterface (HDMI) cable or other suitable cabling to a Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD) monitor, and/or via a wireless connection such aspeer-to-peer Wi-Fi Direct connection to a Light-Emitting Diode (LED)television. Other examples of suitable types of displays 1312 mayinclude, without limitation, plasma display devices, projectors, cathoderay tube (CRT) monitors, electronic paper, virtual reality headsets,braille terminal, and/or any other suitable device for outputtinginformation to a computer user. In an embodiment, any suitable type ofoutput device, such as, for instance, an audio speaker or printer, maybe utilized instead of a display 1312.

In an embodiment, output to display 1312 may be accelerated by one ormore graphics processing unit (GPUs) in computer system 1300. A GPU maybe, for example, a highly parallelized, multi-core floating pointprocessing unit highly optimized to perform computing operations relatedto the display of graphics data, 3D data, and/or multimedia. In additionto computing image and/or video data directly for output to display1312, a GPU may also be used to render imagery or other video dataoff-screen, and read that data back into a program for off-screen imageprocessing with very high performance. Various other computing tasks maybe off-loaded from the processor 1304 to the GPU.

One or more input devices 1314 are coupled to bus 1302 for communicatinginformation and command selections to processor 1304. One example of aninput device 1314 is a keyboard, including alphanumeric and other keys.Another type of user input device 1314 is cursor control 1316, such as amouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating directioninformation and command selections to processor 1304 and for controllingcursor movement on display 1312. This input device typically has twodegrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis(e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane. Yetother examples of suitable input devices 1314 include a touch-screenpanel affixed to a display 1312, cameras, microphones, accelerometers,motion detectors, and/or other sensors. In an embodiment, anetwork-based input device 1314 may be utilized. In such an embodiment,user input and/or other information or commands may be relayed viarouters and/or switches on a Local Area Network (LAN) or other suitableshared network, or via a peer-to-peer network, from the input device1314 to a network link 1320 on the computer system 1300.

A computer system 1300 may implement techniques described herein usingcustomized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and/orprogram logic which in combination with the computer system causes orprograms computer system 1300 to be a special-purpose machine. Accordingto one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed by computersystem 1300 in response to processor 1304 executing one or moresequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 1306.Such instructions may be read into main memory 1306 from another storagemedium, such as storage device 1310. Execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in main memory 1306 causes processor 1304 toperform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments,hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination withsoftware instructions.

The term “storage media” as used herein refers to any non-transitorymedia that store data and/or instructions that cause a machine tooperate in a specific fashion. Such storage media may comprisenon-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media includes,for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 1310.Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 1306. Commonforms of storage media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, or any other magneticdata storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium,any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, aFLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

Storage media is distinct from but may be used in conjunction withtransmission media. Transmission media participates in transferringinformation between storage media. For example, transmission mediaincludes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise bus 1302. Transmission media can also take the formof acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-waveand infra-red data communications.

Various forms of media may be involved in carrying one or more sequencesof one or more instructions to processor 1304 for execution. Forexample, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk orsolid state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and use a modem to send theinstructions over a network, such as a cable network or cellularnetwork, as modulated signals. A modem local to computer system 1300 canreceive the data on the network and demodulate the signal to decode thetransmitted instructions. Appropriate circuitry can then place the dataon bus 1302. Bus 1302 carries the data to main memory 1306, from whichprocessor 1304 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructionsreceived by main memory 1306 may optionally be stored on storage device1310 either before or after execution by processor 1304.

A computer system 1300 may also include, in an embodiment, one or morecommunication interfaces 1318 coupled to bus 1302. A communicationinterface 1318 provides a data communication coupling, typicallytwo-way, to a network link 1320 that is connected to a local network1322. For example, a communication interface 1318 may be some integratedservices digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or amodem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding typeof telephone line. As another example, the one or more communicationinterfaces 1318 may include a local area network (LAN) card to provide adata communication connection to a compatible LAN. As yet anotherexample, the one or more communication interfaces 1318 may include awireless network interface controller, such as an 802.11-basedcontroller, Bluetooth controller, Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem,and/or other types of wireless interfaces. In any such implementation,communication interface 1318 sends and receives electrical,electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streamsrepresenting various types of information.

Network link 1320 typically provides data communication through one ormore networks to other data devices. For example, network link 1320 mayprovide a connection through local network 1322 to a host computer 1324or to data equipment operated by a Service Provider 1326. ServiceProvider 1326, which may for example be an Internet Service Provider(ISP), in turn provides data communication services through a wide areanetwork, such as the world wide packet data communication network nowcommonly referred to as the “Internet” 1328. Local network 1322 andInternet 1328 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signalsthat carry digital data streams. The signals through the variousnetworks and the signals on network link 1320 and through communicationinterface 1318, which carry the digital data to and from computer system1300, are example forms of transmission media.

In an embodiment, computer system 1300 can send messages and receivedata, including program code and/or other types of instructions, throughthe network(s), network link 1320, and communication interface 1318. Inthe Internet example, a server 1330 might transmit a requested code foran application program through Internet 1328, ISP 1326, local network1322 and communication interface 1318. The received code may be executedby hardware processors 1304 as it is received, and/or stored in storagedevice 1310, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. Asanother example, information received via a network link 1320 may beinterpreted and/or processed by a software component of the computersystem 1300, such as a web browser, application, or server, which inturn issues instructions based thereon to a hardware processor 1304,possibly via an operating system and/or other intermediate layers ofsoftware components.

In an embodiment, some or all of the systems described herein may be orcomprise server computer systems, including one or more computer systems1300 that collectively implement various components of the system as aset of server-side processes. The server computer systems may includeweb server, application server, database server, and/or otherconventional server components that certain above-described componentsutilize to provide the described functionality. The server computersystems may receive network-based communications comprising input datafrom any of a variety of sources, including without limitationuser-operated client computing devices such as desktop computers,tablets, or smartphones, remote sensing devices, and/or other servercomputer systems.

In an embodiment, certain server components may be implemented in fullor in part using “cloud”-based components that are coupled to thesystems by one or more networks, such as the Internet. The cloud-basedcomponents may expose interfaces by which they provide processing,storage, software, and/or other resources to other components of thesystems. In an embodiment, the cloud-based components may be implementedby third-party entities, on behalf of another entity for whom thecomponents are deployed. In other embodiments, however, the describedsystems may be implemented entirely by computer systems owned andoperated by a single entity.

In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor and is configuredto perform any of the foregoing methods. In an embodiment, anon-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing softwareinstructions, which when executed by one or more processors causeperformance of any of the foregoing methods.

6.0. Extensions and Alternatives

As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” “certain,” and “particular”are used as naming conventions to distinguish queries, plans,representations, steps, objects, devices, or other items from eachother, so that these items may be referenced after they have beenintroduced. Unless otherwise specified herein, the use of these termsdoes not imply an ordering, timing, or any other characteristic of thereferenced items.

In the drawings, the various components are depicted as beingcommunicatively coupled to various other components by arrows. Thesearrows illustrate only certain examples of information flows between thecomponents. Neither the direction of the arrows nor the lack of arrowlines between certain components should be interpreted as indicating theexistence or absence of communication between the certain componentsthemselves. Indeed, each component may feature a suitable communicationinterface by which the component may become communicatively coupled toother components as needed to accomplish any of the functions describedherein.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have beendescribed with reference to numerous specific details that may vary fromimplementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicatorof what is the invention, and is intended by the applicants to be theinvention, is the set of claims that issue from this application, in thespecific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequentcorrection. In this regard, although specific claim dependencies are setout in the claims of this application, it is to be noted that thefeatures of the dependent claims of this application may be combined asappropriate with the features of other dependent claims and with thefeatures of the independent claims of this application, and not merelyaccording to the specific dependencies recited in the set of claims.Moreover, although separate embodiments are discussed herein, anycombination of embodiments and/or partial embodiments discussed hereinmay be combined to form further embodiments.

Any definitions expressly set forth herein for terms contained in suchclaims shall govern the meaning of such terms as used in the claims.Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage or attributethat is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of suchclaim in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operation of a secure programmingsystem comprising: generating a programmer device certificate based on asilicon vendor device certificate of a programmable device mounted in aprogrammer, wherein the programmer is an electromechanical system forprogramming the programmable devices; transferring the programmer devicecertificate to the programmable device; extracting the programmer devicecertificate and the silicon vendor device certificate from theprogrammable device after the programmer device certificate istransferred into the programmable device; authenticating the programmerdevice certificate using an OEM public key and authenticating thesilicon vendor device certificate using the silicon vendor public key;and sorting the programmable device into an output receptacle of theprogrammer based on an authentication status of the programmer devicecertificate and the silicon vendor device certificate, wherein sortingthe programmable device includes moving the programmable device to agood device receptacle upon a successful authentication.
 2. The methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the programmer devicecertificate includes generating the programmer device certificate forthe programmable device based on the silicon vendor device certificateand signing the programmer device certificate with an OEM private key.3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein extracting the siliconvendor device certificate includes extracting the silicon vendor devicecertificate from a secure storage unit of the programmable device. 4.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein sorting the programmabledevice includes placing the programmable device in the output receptacleusing the device placement unit.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1,further comprising: creating a job control package having a programmeridentification of the programmer; and configuring the programmer havingthe programmer identification to program a target payload of the jobcontrol package to the programmable device.
 6. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein sorting the programmable device includes moving theprogrammable device to a bad device receptacle upon an unsuccessfulauthentication.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprisingconfiguring the programmer to program an encrypted target payload to theprogrammable device.
 8. One or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia, storing one or more sequences of instructions, wherein executionof the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processorscauses the one or more processors to perform: generating a programmerdevice certificate based on a silicon vendor device certificate of aprogrammable device mounted in a programmer, wherein the programmer isan electromechanical system for programming the programmable device;transferring the programmer device certificate to the programmabledevice; extracting the programmer device certificate and the siliconvendor device certificate from the programmable device after theprogrammer device certificate is transferred into the programmabledevice; authenticating the programmer device certificate using an OEMpublic key and authenticating the silicon vendor device certificateusing the silicon vendor public key; and sorting the programmable deviceinto an output receptacle of the programmer based on the authenticationstatus of a programmer device certificate and the silicon vendor devicecertificate, wherein sorting the programmable device includes moving theprogrammable device to a good device receptacle upon a successfulauthentication.
 9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia of claim 8, wherein generating the programmer device certificateincludes generating the programmer device certificate for theprogrammable device based on the silicon vendor device certificate andsigning the programmer device certificate with an OEM private key. 10.The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8,wherein extracting the silicon vendor device certificate includesextracting the silicon vendor device certificate from a secure storageunit of the programmable device.
 11. The one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media of claim 8, wherein sorting the programmabledevice includes placing the programmable device in the output receptacleusing a device placement unit.
 12. The one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media of claim 8, further comprising: creating a jobcontrol package having a programmer identification of the programmer;and configuring the programmer having the programmer identification toprogram a target payload of the job control package to the programmabledevice.
 13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 8, wherein sorting the programmable device includes moving theprogrammable device to a bad device receptacle upon an unsuccessfulauthentication.
 14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia of claim 8, further comprising configuring the programmer toprogram an encrypted target payload to the programmable device.
 15. Asecure programming system comprising: a programmer configured forgenerating a programmer device certificate based on a silicon vendordevice certificate of a programmable device mounted in the programmer,wherein the programmer is an electromechanical system for programmingthe programmable device, transferring the programmer device certificateto the programmable device, extracting the programmer device certificateand the silicon vendor device certificate from the programmable deviceafter the programmer device certificate is transferred into theprogrammable device; and a factory security system, coupled to theprogrammer, configured for authenticating the programmer devicecertificate using an OEM public key and authenticating the siliconvendor device certificate using the silicon vendor public key, andwherein the programmer is configured for sorting the programmable deviceinto an output receptacle of the programmer based on an authenticationstatus of the programmer device certificate and the silicon vendordevice certificate, wherein sorting the programmable device includesmoving the programmable device to a good device receptacle upon asuccessful authentication.
 16. The system as claimed in claim 15,wherein the factory security system is configured for generating theprogrammer device certificate for the programmable device based on thesilicon vendor device certificate and signing the programmer devicecertificate with an OEM private key.
 17. The system as claimed in claim15, wherein the programmer is configured for extracting the siliconvendor device certificate from a secure storage unit of the programmabledevice.
 18. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the programmer isconfigured for sorting the programmable device in the output receptacleusing a device placement unit.
 19. The system as claimed in claim 15,wherein the factory security system is configured for creating a jobcontrol package having a programmer identification of the programmer andfor configuring the programmer having the programmer identification toprogram a target payload of the job control package to the programmabledevice.
 20. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the programmer isconfigured to program an encrypted target payload to the programmabledevice.